Mumbai bans rockets and aerial firecrackers until November 25 after string of fires

Mumbai has prohibited rockets and other firecrackers that shoot into the air, after a run of fires linked to Diwali celebrations. The prohibition covers the whole area under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. It took effect on November 9, 2026, and will stay in force until 11.59 pm on November 25, 2026.

The authorities said that over the past two days, a large number of fires were reported across the island city and the suburbs, and firecrackers were behind them. Their concern is that rockets and similar aerial items can come down on the roofs, balconies or windows of neighbouring buildings. They can also land on material that burns easily, and that is when a blaze can start.

The city's make-up, officials said, raises the danger. Mumbai is densely populated, with many tall buildings, slum settlements and narrow roads, and a very large number of homes, shops and offices. In such a place even a small fire can turn into a serious accident. The ban was brought in as a precaution, to protect lives and property.

The order was issued by the Brihanmumbai Urban Disaster Management Authority, and it was enforced by the authority's chairperson. It rests on the powers given by Section 41(A) (as amended), Section 26(2), Section 30 and Section 34(M) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The ban is not confined to a single kind of place. It applies to residential buildings, their terraces and rooftops, balconies, courtyards, parking areas and slum areas, and to every other premises as well. Residents are expected to obey it not just inside building compounds but in all of these locations.

To see that the order is carried out, the zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police, the Assistant Commissioners of the municipal ward offices and the Chief Fire Officer have been told to take whatever action is needed. The agencies concerned will take the required steps. The notice does not set out any specific penalty or fine for those who break the ban.

The administration has appealed to citizens to follow the order strictly and not to ignore the restrictions. It said safety has to come first during Diwali, and pointed out that rockets and aerial firecrackers are a particular risk to buildings, parking areas and places where combustible goods are stored. People should keep both their own safety and that of others in mind. Residents have also been asked, while they burst firecrackers, to look out for small children, the elderly and their neighbours.