New Delhi: The Delhi Fire Service (DFS) reported over 300 fire-related incidents during Diwali, with no life-threatening situations, according to an official on Friday.
DFS Director Atul Garg noted that approximately 158 incidents were reported between midnight and 6 am.
“We didn’t have any major calls, but there were many. From 5 pm yesterday until midnight, we logged around 192 calls, and from midnight to 6 am, another 158 calls were reported. In just 12 hours, from 5 PM to 5 AM, we surpassed the 300 mark,” Garg explained.
He also mentioned that the increased fire force presence during Diwali resulted in no major fires.
“Minor fire incidents occurred, including one in Vikaspuri where two individuals became unconscious. In Mangolpuri, another incident left a woman and two children injured,” added Garg.
In a separate event, a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus was involved. The DFS responded to a call about a man carrying potash on a bus, which led to a fire.
A call from the Najafgarh area around 6:30 PM reported that a man carrying potash on a DTC bus was involved in a blast. Potash, commonly used in firecracker manufacturing, is highly flammable. The incident resulted in two injuries, and two fire tenders were dispatched to the location.
Previously, the Delhi police noted burn injuries to a passenger and a co-passenger due to firecrackers igniting on a DTC bus. Further investigation revealed that the passenger was in possession of a small amount of firecrackers that ignited.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Dwarka stated, “Upon inquiry, it was discovered that a passenger was on a bus with a small quantity of firecrackers. These firecrackers ignited, causing minor burn injuries to the individual carrying them and to another passenger seated nearby.”
Post-Diwali, pollution levels in Delhi soared, with several areas registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 350, leading to heightened health concerns. Notably affected areas included Anand Vihar, Aya Nagar, Jahangirpuri, and Dwarka. The spike in pollution was not limited to Delhi but was also seen in other major cities such as Chennai and Mumbai.
