Across the country, Diwali was celebrated with great enthusiasm last Sunday. People enjoyed the festival, exchanged sweets, and burst firecrackers, but the festive celebrations were marred by numerous fire incidents triggered by fireworks. From Delhi to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra, a trail of destruction caused by fire was witnessed. Scrap warehouses burned down completely, while shops, houses, and factories caught fire in different regions, creating panic among residents across various parts of the country.
Late at night in Delhi's Najafgarh area, specifically in Nangli Sakrawati, a massive fire broke out at a garment factory. The blaze was so intense that 25 fire tenders reached the spot one after another, bringing the fire under control after hours of grueling effort. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the incident. Alongside Najafgarh, Diwali night also witnessed a major fire in Narela. A factory in the Narela industrial area caught fire, prompting about half a dozen fire tenders to rush to the scene and douse the flames. In Shahdara's Ashok Nagar, Ramesh Store caught fire due to firecrackers, reducing the shop's goods to ashes. According to eyewitnesses, some boys were bursting crackers near the shop and were even asked to stop, but they ignored the warnings, leading the fire to spread to the store.
Flats and Factories Catch Fire in Ghaziabad and Lucknow
Meanwhile, in Ghaziabad near Delhi, while residents were immersed in celebrations on Diwali, several localities witnessed raging fires. A flat in Crossing Republik, Ghaziabad, caught fire. According to information, the blaze was triggered by a stray rocket entering the house, though officials are currently investigating the matter. Three fire department vehicles reached the spot, extinguished the flames, and safely evacuated the residents.
Additionally, an incident of fire was reported at a plastic factory located in the Vijay Nagar industrial area of Ghaziabad. The fire suddenly broke out at Nova Form Works Private Limited situated on South Side GT Road, quickly taking a ferocious form and sending a thick plume of black smoke into the sky. A large quantity of plastic shuttering material was stored inside the factory, causing the fire to spread rapidly. Fire department teams rushed to the location upon receiving information and brought the situation under control, with no casualties reported from this major incident. In Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow, a scrap warehouse located in Chota Devi Kheda caught fire, though fire services managed to extinguish it safely without any casualties.
Multiple Fire Incidents Reported Across Maharashtra
Moving to Maharashtra, multiple fire incidents were reported from the state. In Navi Mumbai, a fire broke out on the first floor of a sofa-making shop inside a shopping complex located in Turbhe Sector 21. The incident caused panic in the neighborhood, and locals alerted the fire department, after which multiple fire tenders arrived and extinguished the flames. In Mumbai's Vidyavihar area, a fire broke out at the Skyline Epitome building, reducing all belongings to ashes before fire engines arrived at the location.
Garage and Residential Fires Keep Firefighters Busy in Mumbai and Thane
A garage located in Haji Kasam Chawl in Mumbai caught fire. The blaze was so severe that firefighters and local residents joined forces to put it out. While all belongings were destroyed, the saving grace was that no individual suffered any injuries. Apart from Mumbai, Pune also witnessed Diwali turning into a trouble for some residents. An apartment in Vadgaon Sheri and a warehouse in Fursungi caught fire, prompting fire departments to rush to the spots and engage in firefighting operations.
Meanwhile, reports emerged of a fire breaking out on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors of the Raheja Gardens residential complex in Thane. Fire engines reached the site immediately after the incident was reported, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also visited the spot to assess the situation. Alongside Maharashtra, fire incidents were also witnessed in Madhya Pradesh. In Dewas, near the Janta Bank crossing, a restaurant and a house caught fire on Diwali night, prompting 10 to 12 fire tenders to rush to the scene and successfully bring the blaze under control. Dewas recorded three separate fire incidents on Diwali night.
