Several fire incidents were reported on Diwali across the country on Monday despite state governments imposing a blanket ban on the storage, sale, and use of all types of firecrackers. Despite some states such as Delhi imposing fines and punishment of imprisonment for 6 months, high-decibel firecrackers were burst throughout Diwali night, leading to 'very poor' air quality. Several instances of houses and shops being gutted due to firecrackers also came to light to Tuesday. 


Fire Incidents In Delhi


Despite imposing a complete ban on the use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, 2023, Delhi reported 201 emergencies and fire related calls on Diwali, which was 32 per cent higher than the last year.


In one of the incidents, a fire broke out in a garment factory in east Delhi's Gandhi Nagar area on Monday evening. Four people were rescued from the third floor of the factory, while a fireman suffered minor injuries in the operation. A fire also broke out in a restaurant in northwest Delhi's Prashant Vihar area, PTI reported.


Delhi recorded "very poor" air quality on Tuesday, but the pollution levels were the lowest since 2015.


The fire department in neighbouring Noida received more than a dozen calls, however, no loss of life was reported in any of the incidents. 


Three fire incidents were reported from homes, including an apartment in a high-rise society, while rest were from shops and garbage dumping spots in Noida and Greater Noida, PTI reported quoting Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Arun Kumar Singh.


Fire Incidents Reported In Mumbai, Palghar, Thane


In Mumbai, the fire brigade said 85 fire incidents were reported during Diwali celebrations. Of them, 37, or nearly 44 per cent, were caused by crackers. However, no casualties were reported in these incidents.


At least 20 incidents of fire were reported in Thane and Palghar districts of Maharashtra on Diwali. Most of the blaze-related incidents were caused due to bursting of firecrackers on the festival of lights on Monday, Avinash Sawant, chief of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC)'s Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) told PTI.


Gujarat: Fire In Ahmedabad Chawl Due To Crackers


A fire broke out in a 'chawl' or tenement in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, apparently due to crackers, causing explosions in five gas cylinders kept in different rooms on Tuesday. However, no casualty was reported. A government official also said as many as 57 fire calls were received from across the city post-Diwali on Monday, PTI reported.


In a separate incident on the city's outskirts, an automobile spare parts' shop was gutted in a blaze which was also prima facie caused due to firecrackers.


A furniture shop and a plywood outlet were gutted in Vadodara, while a locked flat in Surat caught fire. Several cases of people suffering burns due to bursting of firecrackers were reported in Gujarat on the night of Diwali.


Man Dies After Firecracker Shrapnel Pierces His Neck In Uttar Pradesh


A 38-year-old man died after a piece of shrapnel following a firecracker explosion pierced his neck on Tuesday. The incident took place at Morubala village in Zarifnagar police station limits, PTI reported.


The incident happened when a man was bursting firecrackers inside a glass bottle on Diwali. As a cracker exploded, the glass also shattered and a broken piece pierced the neck of the deceased, who was passing by, the police said.


Arunachal: 700 Shops Gutted At Itanagar Market


Around 700 shops were gutted in a massive fire that broke out at Naharlagun Daily Market near Arunachal Pradesh's Itanagar on Tuesday. There was no casualty, PTI reported. The fire is suspected to be caused by firecrackers or lamps lit for Diwali celebrations, police said.


Three fire tenders fought for hours to bring the blaze under control. The damage caused is estimated to be in crores of rupees.


As the shops were made of bamboo and timber with dry items stored in abundance in the market, the blaze spread fast.