“Do not use…”: Coldplay received a warning notice from the Child Protection Authority before the Ahmedabad concert

Ahead of Coldplay’s upcoming concert in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, lead singer Chris Martin and the organizers of the event have been issued a notice, ordering them to refrain from including children on stage in any capacity.

Organizers have also been directed to ensure that all children entering the concert venue are equipped with earplugs or hearing protection devices.

The Ahmedabad District Child Protection Unit has issued this directive for the Coldplay concert, scheduled to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium on January 25-26, 2025. In addition to preventing children from entering the stage, the unit also stressed the importance of adhering to noise control regulations, specifically setting maximum sound levels. 120 dB.

The notice clearly states that failure to adhere to these guidelines will result in strict action from the District Child Protection Unit. The unit raised concerns about the potential risks of high sound levels to children’s health, especially when decibels exceed 120.

The notice came after a complaint from Pandit Rao Dharnevar, assistant professor of sociology in Chandigarh.

Exposing children to concerts with loud noises and intense lighting can harm their physical health and hinder their mental development, Darnevar said. He also pledged to continue advocating for children’s rights in similar situations in the future.

Earlier, Darnevar had filed a complaint against Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana, which led to an official notice being sent by the Deputy Director of Women and Child Department, Punjab. This notice requests the Ludhiana District Commissioner to ban the singer from performing certain songs believed to be promoting alcohol, even if their lyrics have been changed.

Coldplay’s much-awaited concert in Ahmedabad is part of their concert Music fields World tour. The band, which was originally scheduled to play just one show, added a second show due to overwhelming demand.

Before Ahmedabad, the Grammy Award-winning band will perform in Navi Mumbai at DY Patel Stadium on January 18, 19 and 20. The January 2025 concerts mark the band’s return from the UK to India since their last performance in 2016.