Maharashtra: Pune sees 65 fire cases, Pimpri-Chinchwad 17, over two days of Diwali festivities

The city of Pune and its twin city PimpriChinchwad witnessed an alarming rise in fire incidents during the Diwali festivities this year though fortunately no injuries or casualties were reportedOver the past two days of Laxmi Poojan and Diwali Padwa Pune Municipal Corporation PMC recorded 65 fire incidents while 17 cases were reported within PimpriChinchwad Municipal Corporation PCMC limitsPune Fire Brigade officials said most fires were triggered by firecrackers or decorative lights Despite the surge the civic fire departmentsrsquo extensive safety campaign ldquoSafe Diwali Happy Diwalirdquo is believed to have helped prevent serious accidents Fire personnel used loudspeakers across the city to remind residents about fire safety precautions especially during festive evenings when cracker usage peaks said Nilesh Mahajan a PMC fire officerPIC VIA ARCHANA DAHIWALAccording to PMC fire records the maximum number of incidents occurred on Laxmi Poojan night November 1 between 7 pm and midnight when 36 fires were reported in various parts of the city including Hadapsar Warje Kasba Peth Kothrud Sinhgad Road Dhayari and Baner On Diwali Padwa 14 more cases were registered followed by nine on Bhau Beej In total 60 separate fire cases were reported across Pune city and suburbs during the Diwali periodMost of these incidents involved balcony fires garbage fires and small residential blazes often caused by falling rockets or burning decorative materials The Fire Brigadersquos Central Control Room confirmed that despite the record number of calls no serious injuries or major property losses were reportedOne notable incident occurred in Hingne Khurd on Sinhgad Road where a warehouse storing event and decorative materials caught fire on Monday evening The godown belonging to Bendre Event Management contained large quantities of carpets drapes and plastic decorations which ignited rapidlyTeams from Sinhgad Road Navale Bridge and Warje Fire Stations rushed to the spot and managed to control the flames within 30 minutes despite the densely populated surroundings The cause of the fire is suspected to be an electrical short circuit and officials confirmed that no one was injuredThree separate fire incidents were reported in Pune late on Diwali night all suspected to have been caused by firecrackers In Fursungi a rocket landed on the balcony of a tenthfloor flat igniting curtains and causing a minor fire inside the apartment In Kharadirsquos Gera Society fireworks debris led to a large pile of garbage catching fire while dry grass near the Hadapsar railway track also caught fire Firefighters from the Pune Fire Brigade quickly brought all three blazes under control No injuries or casualties were reportedPimpriChinchwad Electric scooter blaze among 17 incidentsIn PimpriChinchwad 17 fire incidents were reported within a span of just 16 hours during Diwali The most severe occurred in Wakad where a service centre for electric twowheelers was gutted in the early hours of Laxmi Poojan day Around 60 electric scooters were destroyed when a suspected battery explosion ignited a massive blazeThe fire broke out around 2 am and six fire tenders from Rahatni Nehrunagar and Thergaon fire stations were deployed Firefighters had to work carefully due to the highvoltage power lines nearby and the risk of battery and gas cylinder explosions The team used foam extinguishing techniques essential for controlling electric vehicle fires After nearly two hours of intense effort the blaze was brought under controlAccording to a PCMC fire officer preliminary information suggests that the fire may have started due to a short circuit or a malfunction during charging Fortunately there were no casualtiesSteady rise in fire cases over the yearsOfficial records of PMC show a clear upward trend in Diwali fire incidents in Pune2021 21 cases2023 35 cases2024 60 cases2025 65 cases record highOfficials attribute this rise to increased firecracker use urban crowding and decorative lighting without proper safety checksCivic appeal for safer celebrationsBoth Pune and PCMC Fire Brigades have urged citizens to celebrate responsibly by avoiding fireworks near residential areas and ensuring electrical decorations are inspected for faulty wiring The lsquoSafe Diwali Happy Diwalirsquo campaign fire control helplines and quickresponse units played a crucial role in preventing any loss of life this yearDespite the record number of calls fire officials said the swift response of personnel and public cooperation ensured that Diwali remained incidentfree in terms of human casualties marking a testament to the cityrsquos growing awareness of fire safetyEven with the twoday holiday on Laxmi Poojan and Diwali Padwa firemen remained busy controlling fires across various parts of the cityHighest number of fire incidents during Diwali in Pune and PimpriChinchwad Pune 65 PimpriChinchwad 17