While residents across the national capital were busy celebrating the festival of lights, emergency services remained on high alert as distress calls poured in continuously throughout the night. Fire engines and personnel were dispatched rapidly to every location from where emergencies were reported. In total, 257 fire-related incidents were logged across Delhi on Diwali, out of which 24 cases directly involved firecrackers while the remaining incidents were triggered by other factors.
Emergency calls surged after sunset
According to Delhi Fire Service Chief AK Malik, the department received a total of 257 calls on November 8 during the festivities. Among these, 214 calls were related to general fire outbreaks, while 24 incidents were specifically linked to firecracker activity. The volume of emergency calls began climbing steeply as evening approached, with records indicating that 178 calls had already been received between 6 PM and midnight alone.
One medium and two major categories recorded
Officials stated that the reported incidents included one medium-category call and two major-category calls. While one death was registered in connection with the fire incidents, it was confirmed that the fatality was not caused by the flames, as a decomposed body was recovered from the site. A total of six people sustained injuries during the various blaze incidents. Furthermore, approximately five employees of the fire department suffered minor injuries while engaged in firefighting operations, though none sustained severe wounds and all were administered first aid immediately.
Fire units deployed outside the capital
To tackle emergency demands effectively, resources were stretched beyond city borders when required. AK Malik noted that under specific circumstances during Diwali night, some fire tenders belonging to the Delhi Fire Service were also dispatched to Sonipat.
Severe blazes erupted without firecrackers
Apart from incidents involving crackers, major fires broke out due to other reasons in different areas. A massive fire erupted on Diwali evening at a garment factory located in the Nangli Sakrawati area of Najafgarh. The blaze was so intense that 25 fire tenders had to be deployed to extinguish the flames. Separately in Narela, a tragic incident occurred where a child lost his life after a firecracker rocket struck his abdomen.
Industrial unit gutted in Ghaziabad
A massive fire also broke out in the neighboring industrial zone of Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad. The blaze engulfed the Nova Bolt Plastic Company, causing substantial material damage. According to available details, the facility stored raw materials used for manufacturing plastic chairs, which fueled the ferocious flames. It required more than a dozen fire engines to ultimately bring the situation under control.
