The Festival of Lights in Lucknow turned into a night of blazing emergencies as the city's fire department found itself stretched to the limit, responding to a staggering over 40 fire-related calls during Diwali celebrations.
Non-Stop Emergency Response
Fire department officials reported an unprecedented volume of emergency calls pouring in throughout Tuesday evening and night. "Our control room was buzzing non-stop with distress calls from various parts of the city," revealed a senior fire officer, highlighting the intense pressure faced by emergency services.
City-Wide Fire Hotspots
The fire emergencies were scattered across multiple locations in Lucknow, with particularly dense areas reporting clusters of incidents. The rapid response teams worked tirelessly, navigating through festival traffic and crowded neighborhoods to reach affected sites.
Primary Causes Identified
- Careless handling of fireworks and firecrackers
- Electrical short circuits due to decorative lighting overload
- Accidental fires in residential areas
- Improper disposal of burning materials
Narrow Escapes and Property Damage
While most incidents resulted in property damage rather than human casualties, several close calls were reported where families had narrow escapes. The fire department's prompt action prevented what could have been major tragedies in densely populated residential areas.
Preventive Measures for Future Festivals
- Maintain safe distance while lighting fireworks
- Avoid overloading electrical circuits with decorative lights
- Keep water buckets and fire extinguishers readily available
- Supervise children during firework activities
- Properly dispose of used firecrackers and burning materials
The alarming spike in fire incidents has raised serious questions about public safety awareness during major festivals. Fire department officials emphasized the need for greater public consciousness and precautionary measures to prevent such emergencies in future celebrations.
