Nagpur prohibits rockets and sky shots from November 9 to 30 after over 42 fires on Lakshmi Puja day

Aerial fireworks such as rockets and sky shots can no longer be set off anywhere in Nagpur between November 9 and November 30, 2026. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has put the prohibition in place after fires spiked across the city during Diwali.

The order comes from the corporation's Urban Disaster Management Authority (UDMA). It was signed by Dr Vipin Itankar, who heads the authority and is also the municipal commissioner. The administration describes it as a precaution meant to head off further accidents.

The trigger was Lakshmi Puja day. Within 24 hours, the city logged more than 42 fires, and public property suffered heavy damage. A preliminary inquiry points to sparks from rockets and sky shots launched into the air as the cause of the blazes at several spots.

Officials say burning embers from such fireworks can drift onto nearby buildings, shops and vehicles, and a serious accident could follow. The danger grows where scrap shops, godowns, petrol pumps or stores of inflammable material are close by, because a fire there would put lives and property at much greater risk.

The order cites the nature of the city: its layout, rising population, high-rise buildings, dense settlements, slums and large number of commercial establishments. Given all this, the authority has named the places where aerial fireworks are barred within municipal limits. These are building rooftops and terraces, balconies and refuge areas, narrow roads, slums and crowded residential neighbourhoods, markets and commercial establishments, and parking areas, along with other places where many people gather or move about.

A report from the chief fire officer also shows that fire incidents climb during the festival period. More emergencies strain the fire brigade, and crews may struggle to get to the scene, especially in congested areas. The corporation says this, too, weighed on its decision to act in advance, to prevent further accidents, protect public property and keep people safe.

Enforcement has been entrusted to the Nagpur Police Commissionerate and the corporation's fire department. Both have been told to apply the order strictly.

Anyone who breaks the ban faces punitive and legal action under Sections 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The administration says the aim is to ensure that the fires seen during Diwali do not happen again.

It has also asked citizens to follow the restrictions and to avoid any act that could start a fire or put anyone's life at risk.