Delhi's firefighting forces experienced one of their most challenging nights of the year during Diwali celebrations, responding to an unprecedented wave of emergency calls as festive joy turned into fiery hazards across the capital.
Record-Breaking Emergency Response
The Delhi Fire Service found themselves in a relentless battle against flames throughout the festival night, receiving a staggering nearly 400 fire-related emergency calls between 6 PM on Diwali and 6 AM the following morning. The sheer volume of incidents pushed the city's emergency response system to its limits.
Capital's Firefighting Infrastructure Stretched Thin
According to Atul Garg, the Director of Delhi Fire Service, the control room became a hub of continuous activity. "Our teams were deployed across all districts of Delhi, working tirelessly through the night," Garg reported. The fire service had to strategically manage their resources to address the most critical situations first.
Primary Causes Behind the Fiery Night
The massive surge in fire incidents was primarily attributed to:
- Uncontrolled fireworks and firecrackers igniting nearby combustible materials
- Electrical short circuits triggered by excessive decorative lighting
- Negligent disposal of burning materials and fireworks
- Traditional oil lamp arrangements spreading to nearby objects
City-Wide Impact and Response Coordination
Fire tenders raced through the streets of Delhi throughout the night, with multiple stations coordinating their efforts. The most affected areas included residential neighborhoods where celebratory activities were most concentrated. Despite the overwhelming number of calls, the fire service managed to prevent any major casualties, though property damage was reported in several instances.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety measures during festival seasons, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Delhi where the consequences of even small fires can escalate rapidly.
