Government advises against alcohol-based sanitizers while lighting diyas on Sunday
Ahead of the lights-out event on Sunday, the government has issued an advisory against the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers while lighting lamps and candles. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS), which have been recommended for frequent use amid the coronavirus outbreak, are notably highly flammable. Earlier this week, a man had burnt himself while cleaning household items with an alcohol-based sanitizer.
A day before the lights out event on Sunday, national broadcaster Prasar Bharati tweeted, "Citizens advised not to use alcohol-based sanitizers while lighting diyas and candles tomorrow at 9 pm as it is inflammable." Addressing a Health Ministry briefing earlier Saturday, Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau, KS Dhatwalia, also advised people against using ABHS while lighting lamps and candles.
The apprehensions regarding power surge are misplaced; however do take care to not use alcohol based hand sanitizers while lighting diyas or candles: @DG_PIB, K.S. Dhatwalia at @MoHFW_INDIA media briefing on #COVID19Pandemic #COVID2019 pic.twitter.com/gvQq39Uq92
— PIB India 🇮🇳 #StayHome #StaySafe (@PIB_India) April 4, 2020
Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADG PI), Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence, also tweeted, "On April 5, 2020, let us be careful while lighting diyas or candles. Use soaps to wash your hands and not alcohol-based sanitizers prior to lighting."
A 44-year-old man in Haryana's Rewari suffered 35% burns when he was cleaning household items with an alcohol-based sanitizer. He was admitted to New Delhi's Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Sunday night. The hospital said he was cleaning the items in the kitchen near his wife, who was cooking food on the stove. The sanitizer spilled on his clothes, which then accidentally caught fire.
To recall, on Friday morning, PM Modi had urged the people of India to switch off all lights at 9 pm on Sunday for nine minutes. Instead, he said, people should light candles, diyas, or even electronic flashlights to show solidarity with India's fight against coronavirus. "Let us light our lives with hope amid the darkness of the coronavirus pandemic," he said.
Meanwhile, as per the latest update from the Health Ministry, by 6 pm on Saturday, India had reported 3,072 cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These include 75 deaths and 2,784 active cases along with 212 cases where the patient had been cured or discharged, and one patient who migrated out of India. Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state, reporting 537 coronavirus infections on Saturday.
