Delhi Fire Dept Reports Record Diwali Emergency Calls in a Decade; 3 Dead, 12 Injured

During this year’s Diwali celebrations, Delhi witnessed a sharp rise in fire-related incidents, resulting in the tragic deaths of three people and injuries to 12 others. The Delhi Fire Department reported receiving an unprecedented 320 emergency calls, marking the highest number in the last 10 years.

Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg shared that between midnight and 6 a.m., 158 fire-related incidents were logged. In total, between 5 p.m. on Diwali evening and 5 a.m. the next morning, over 300 emergency calls were received. Garg noted that while there were no major fires, the department had increased fire personnel in anticipation of incidents over Diwali.

A notable incident occurred on a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus when a blast took place around 6:30 p.m. in Najafgarh. The explosion involved potash—a highly inflammable substance commonly used in firecrackers—injuring two people. According to police, another DTC bus passenger was injured when a small quantity of firecrackers ignited.

The morning after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality worsened significantly, with many areas recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) over 350, signaling ‘very poor’ levels. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 395, Dwarka 376, Jahangirpuri 390, and Aya Nagar 352, raising health concerns for residents amid the post-Diwali haze.