Mumbai logs 499 fires in five days, 333 caused by firecrackers; teen killed in Malad

Fire incidents continue unabated in Mumbai because of firecrackers being burst during Diwali. A total of 499 fires were recorded in the city between November 6 and 10. Investigation found that 333 of them were caused by firecrackers.

Over these five days, two people died and eight were injured because of firecrackers.

Day-wise, November 9 saw the most incidents, 166, of which 144 fires were caused by firecrackers. On November 10, there were 102 fires, 24 of them caused by firecrackers. On November 8, 142 incidents were recorded, of which 137 were caused by firecrackers.

In Zone 4 in the western suburbs, which covers Goregaon to Dahisar, 96 fires were recorded within 48 hours. One person died and two were injured in this zone.

In Malad-Malwani, a firecracker blast brought down part of the slab of a shop. Shahnawaz Niyaz Khan, 16, died in the incident.

Fires in the city have risen sharply because of firecrackers during Diwali, particularly rockets and aerial crackers. For this reason, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has banned rockets and aerial crackers in the city from November 9 to November 25.

Despite this, fireworks have been openly seen since November 9. In the Juhu Koliwada area, rockets and large aerial crackers are being burst in big numbers even after the ban.

Civic officials have admitted that deploying teams for action at night is proving difficult. As a result, questions are now being raised about the enforcement of the ban. Residents are asking whether the corporation's order exists only on paper.