Mumbai Bans Rockets and Aerial Firecrackers Following Multiple Diwali Holiday Fires

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Monday banned the use of rockets and aerial firecrackers across Mumbai until November 25 following a surge in fire incidents during the Diwali holiday.

The prohibition, which took immediate effect, covers all public and private spaces, including residential buildings, balconies, rooftops, parking lots and densely populated slum areas within the city limits.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade received 142 fire calls on November 8, with 137 of those emergencies attributed to firecrackers, according to The Times of India.

Three major fires occurred on Diwali night, damaging homes, shops, a garage and a commercial building, though officials reported no casualties from the blazes.

The ban aims to mitigate risks in a city defined by high-rise buildings and narrow, congested streets where burning remnants of aerial fireworks frequently trigger secondary fires.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde urged residents to prioritize public safety, stating, "Our festive celebration should not become someone else's reason for sadness. Safety must be our utmost it."

Tawde also said, "Let us celebrate responsibly and ensure that our festivities do not come at the cost of someone else's safety."

One fire at Haji Kasam Chawl in Dongri required nine hours of firefighting, while another at a 10-storey commercial building in Vidyavihar took six hours to extinguish.

A third incident occurred at a garage on Marol Military Road in Andheri, which firefighters brought under control after five hours of operations.

The municipal authority invoked the Disaster Management Act of 2005 to enforce the order, directing police and fire officials to ensure compliance across all city zones.

Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of the Shiv Sena, called for official intervention, saying, "The police and administration must certainly take official action in such cases. An explanation is needed."

The order clarifies that the use of ground-based firecrackers remains permitted, provided they adhere to existing laws and previous court directives regarding public spaces and footpaths.

Authorities have not yet announced specific penalties for those found violating the ban, which is scheduled to expire at 11.59 pm on November 25.