2 November, 2024;Delhi Fire Services (DFS) reported an unprecedented spike in fire-related emergency calls on the 31st of October and the 1st of November, largely attributed to Diwali celebrations continuing into the following day. Speaking on the situation, DFS Director Atul Garg highlighted the exceptional volume of calls received, stating that the record was “broken on both days.”
“On 31st October, we received around 320 fire calls and on 1st November, we received around 400 calls,” said Garg, adding that this volume marks a record high. “Delhi Fire Service has never attended so many calls within 24 hours.”
Director Garg noted that of these calls, nearly 100 were related to fires in garbage heaps, which is often a byproduct of post-Diwali waste disposal practices combined with stray firecrackers or other ignitable materials. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as of the latest data on the 2nd of November.
The DFS deployed additional resources to manage the heavy workload and emphasized the importance of community awareness regarding fire safety, especially during festive periods. Authorities are now considering enhanced preventive measures to ensure the safety of citizens and minimize fire incidents during high-risk events like Diwali.
