Nagpur fire brigade handles 42 fire calls in 24 hours during Diwali, most between 8 pm and midnight

Nagpur, Nov 9: A large number of fire-related emergencies were recorded in Nagpur during Diwali. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation's fire and emergency services department responded to 42 fire calls across the city within 24 hours.

According to the department's incident list, fire calls rose sharply during the evening celebrations. The highest number of calls was recorded between 8 pm and midnight.

By time of day, 5 calls came between 8 am and 8 pm, 24 calls were recorded between 8 pm and midnight, and 13 calls came between midnight and 8 am. Together, this makes 42.

The figures show that more than half of the incidents took place in the four hours when Diwali festivities and firecracker bursting were at their peak.

The fire department's list includes incidents from residential areas, shops and commercial establishments, industrial areas and other parts of Nagpur. Among them are calls from Suresh Bichhayat Kendra and Bajrang Atta Chakki in Narendra Nagar, in front of Panchsheel Talkies in Ramdaspeth, Shankar Nagar near Bajaj Nagar Chowk, near Padole Hospital in Pratap Nagar, and near the power house in Hiwri Nagar.

The list also includes Dhage's bungalow and Annapurna Nagar on Hudkeshwar Road, Subhash Nagar on Ambazari Road, the CPWD Colony in Seminary Hills, Bhaldarpura in Ganjipeth and Dev Nagar on Khamla Road. Also recorded are Agram Devi in Ganeshpeth, near Thawre School in Babulkheda, Orange City Hospital and Shantinagar in the Ghat area.

Bajeria near Poddareshwar Ram Mandir, the roof of Ranasan Beer Bar in the Senior Bhosale Palace area, Samta 1-J in Putla Layout in Ajni, the small factory area in Vardhaman Nagar, and Antuji Nagar near Anusaya Mata Mandir in Wathoda are also on the list. So are Haj House, Dawai Bazaar, the area near Hudkeshwar police station and Bollywood Center Point in Sakkardara.

Calls also came from in front of Haldiram at Medical Chowk, Congress Nagar near Patel House, the Shiv Mandir in Omkar Nagar, Chikhli Chowk in Kalamna, near the Sai Mandir in the Jaripatka police station area, and Gadikhana in Juni Shukrawari. Fires were also reported at Telecom Nagar Garden in Pratap Nagar and the A1 Meat Shop in Chandan Nagar.

In Vaishali Nagar, the list includes Milind Nagar near Bhawani Chowk, and the area near Mohan Nagar Post Office and Madan Wine Shop. It also has the area near Bapuna Wine Shop in Kukreja Nagar, the tonga stand at Shaheed Chowk and Aman Asha Layout on Jaitala Road. Also recorded are Chitar Oli near Itwari High School on Santi Road, Jalsa Bar on Kamptee Road, Lane No. 5 of Jawahar Nagar on Manewada Road, near Lalit Public School in Wathoda, and Maitri Villa on Nari Road.

The bunching of calls in the evening hours underlines the importance of fire safety during the festival. It also shows how much pressure emergency teams face during the festival's busiest hours.

The department's information confirms the 42 calls, but the details released say nothing about the causes of the individual fires, the extent of property damage or whether anyone was injured.