New Delhi: The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) received a total of 318 fire-related calls on Diwali, the highest in the last 13 years, said an official on Friday. He added that fire brigade officials was sent in view of all these calls. The DFS officials attributed the surge in fire cases to the extensive use of firecrackers.
DFS chief Atul Garg said that the number is the highest number of Diwali-related fire and emergency incidents in the past 13 years. The DFS had already increased preparedness for the festival by deploying additional fire engines and personnel across the national capital. The officials added that most of these calls were received between 5 pm on October 31 and 5 am on November 1.
Delhi: Fire-related incidents during Diwali
As per the DFS record, the department received around:
- 206 fire-related calls in 2011
- 184 in 2012
- 177 in 2013
- 211 in 2014
- 290 in 2015
- 243 in 2016
- 204 in 2017
- 271 in 2018
- 245 in 2019
- 205 in 2020
- 152 in 2021
- 201 in 2022
- 208 in 2023
“This year, we received 318 fire-related calls. The number is the highest in the last 13 years. We were also fully prepared to tackle any and every situation with deployment of all the fire units and officials. We cancelled all the leaves and were ready to help everyone across the city,” Garg said, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Greater Noida witnesses spike in fire-related incidents
After Delhi, several fire-related incidents were also reported in Gautam Buddha Nagar district. Most of these incidents were reported in flats in Greater Noida West area. A massive fire was reported on the 11th floor of D Tower of Amrapali Zodiac Society in Greater Noida West. Fire extinguisher were immediately rushed to the spot to douse the fire.
Another major fire was reported in a flat on the 13th floor in J Tower of Supertech Eco Village 1 Society of Greater Noida West. The fire engulfed the entire flat and also spread to three other flats of the tower. A dog tied inside a flat in the tower was charred to death in the incident.
Another fire broke out on 23rd floor of a tower in Mahagun Maywoods Society in Greater Noida West. The people of the society tried to control the fire but to no avail. Later, the fire department was called to douse the fire.
