Diwali firecrackers spark fires across Maharashtra; 50 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, showroom gutted in Nagpur

Firecrackers burst on the night of Laxmi Pujan during Diwali set off fires at many places across the state. Mumbai and Thane were affected, as was Pune district. Fire brigade teams had to rush from one site to another, and public anxiety rose.

Pimpri-Chinchwad city recorded 50 fire incidents on the day of Laxmi Pujan. Of these, 20 were fires in homes. There were 25 incidents of fire in grass in open grounds, in garbage and in trees. Five more incidents involved fires in flex hoardings, compounds and towers. No lives were lost in any of them. The fire department acted promptly to bring the fires under control.

In Nagpur, firecrackers caused fires at three places. At night, a fire broke out at a TVS showroom in Savarkar Nagar, and 50 two-wheelers were burnt to ashes, causing heavy financial loss. The fire in the showroom is said to have been started by a firecracker.

In the Mumbai suburbs, fires broke out at three places last night. In Jogeshwari, a fire broke out on the JVLR near the Western Express Highway. A Level 2 fire was reported near Marol Military Road in Andheri. Malvani also reported a fire. No injuries have been reported in these incidents, but the fire on the Jogeshwari JVLR was a major one.

In Bhiwandi, firecrackers set off after Laxmi Pujan led to a large number of fires. Five fires broke out by 11 pm on the night of Laxmi Pujan. Before dawn, the Parvati Mangal Karyalaya in Kombad Pada was gutted. No one died in the fire, but the damage was heavy.

In Thane, a fire that broke out at night required Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to take cognisance personally.