Mumbai logs 499 fires in first five days of Diwali, highest in three years; 333 caused by firecrackers

Fire incidents in Mumbai during Diwali this year broke the record of the previous two years. In the first five days of Diwali, 499 fires were recorded in the city, the highest in two years.

Of these 499 incidents, 333 were caused by firecrackers. Ten people were injured in these accidents and a 16-year-old boy died. He was killed in a fire at a firecracker shop in Malvani, Malad.

In comparison, Diwali 2024 saw 262 fires, of which 80 were caused by firecrackers. In 2025, 289 fires were recorded, 113 of them caused by firecrackers. This year's firecracker fires were far higher than in both years.

Day-wise, Lakshmi Puja day, November 8, saw the most firecracker fires, with 142 incidents, 137 of them caused by firecrackers. On November 9 there were 166 fires, 144 of them caused by firecrackers. On November 10, Diwali Padwa, there were 102 incidents, 24 of them caused by firecrackers.

Rockets and aerial firecrackers are banned in Mumbai, yet the rules were openly flouted. Rockets landing on the terraces, balconies and windows of high-rises and on flammable material pose a fire risk.

Meanwhile, the fire brigade faced a major water shortage. To douse fires, water had to be drawn from swimming pools, underground tanks in buildings and wells. With drought-like conditions and a water shortage in Mumbai as well, lakhs of litres of water were still used to fight the fires.

Mumbai's fire brigade remained deployed on the streets during Diwali, with 1,150 personnel and 68 officers. These 1,150 firefighters and 68 senior officers were on duty round the clock through the Diwali days.

The fire brigade's preparations included 39 fire engines, each with a capacity of 4,500 litres. There were also 23 jumbo tankers and 2 water tankers, each of 15,000 litres capacity, along with 6 high-rise firefighting vehicles, 6 aerial water tankers, 2 mini water tankers and 2 mini fire engines.

Deputy commissioners of police, assistant commissioners of the municipal corporation and fire officers are responsible for enforcing the firecracker ban and preventing fires. However, with no clear instructions on who should act and how, these arrangements failed. A lack of coordination among them was evident.

The municipal administration also has no figures on how many places saw action after the ban on bursting firecrackers on roads. On the court's directions, the corporation had Bollywood artistes appeal to people not to burst firecrackers. Despite the awareness campaign and the ban, firecracker use and fire incidents rose sharply.