Following a series of intense fire incidents during the Diwali festivities, the Mumbai Disaster Management Authority has implemented a strict ban on the use of rockets and aerial firecrackers within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits. The directive, which takes immediate effect, will remain in force until November 25, according to civic officials.
The administrative decision comes in response to three major fire outbreaks that occurred across the city on Diwali night. While authorities confirmed that there were no reported casualties in any of these incidents, the damage to infrastructure was significant. Several huts, shops, a local garage, and sections of a commercial building were severely impacted by the blazes, prompting urgent concerns from city officials regarding public safety during the festive season.
The first incident occurred at Haji Kasam Chawl, a row tenement situated on Dr Maheshwari Road in the Dongri area, around 10 pm on Sunday. Initially classified as a Level-I fire, it was escalated to a Level-II emergency. Firefighting efforts at this location were extensive, requiring over nine hours of continuous operation before the fire was brought under control at 7:23 am on Monday. Reports indicate that the fire spread through electrical installations, LPG cylinders, chemical drums, and various household materials, causing widespread destruction within the chawl.
A second Level-II blaze was reported shortly after at a garage on Marol Military Road in the Andheri area, located in close proximity to a school. Firefighters were alerted at 10:51 pm and spent nearly five hours battling the flames, finally extinguishing the fire at 3:50 am on Monday. A third major incident took place at Skyline Vida, a 10-storey commercial building near the Jolly Gymkhana in Vidyavihar. The fire, which broke out at 11:56 pm, spread across the seventh to the tenth floors. It took fire brigade personnel six hours of intense work to secure the building by 5:55 am.
In response to these events, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde issued an appeal to the residents of the city, emphasizing the need for responsible celebrations. Citing directives from the Bombay High Court, the Mayor urged citizens to refrain from bursting firecrackers on public footpaths or in areas near residential and commercial structures. She specifically highlighted the danger posed by aerial fireworks, which she noted can easily enter homes and cause significant property damage or endanger lives.
The Mayor stated that the city's festivities should not come at the expense of someone else’s safety. She called on residents to exercise caution and avoid bursting crackers in densely populated zones to prevent further accidents. The civic body's move to prohibit aerial crackers until November 25 is aimed at preventing any further occurrences of such dangerous fires, particularly in the aftermath of the Diwali celebrations.
The municipal corporation is expected to monitor compliance with these restrictions closely as part of their efforts to maintain safety in the city. Residents have been reminded that the ban covers all aerial firecrackers and rockets within BMC jurisdiction. The administration's focus remains on preventing similar fire-related incidents in the coming days, urging public cooperation in ensuring a safer environment for all citizens.
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