Mumbai bans rockets, aerial firecrackers in BMC limits till Nov 25 | Today’s news
The Mumbai Disaster Management Authority on Monday banned rockets and aerial firecrackers in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits till November 25, according to PTI citing civic officials.
This comes after three major fires were reported at different places in Mumbai on Diwali night, destroying several shacks, shops, a garage and part of a commercial building, civic officials said on Monday.
No casualties were reported in either incident. Following the fires, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde urged residents to celebrate Diwali responsibly and avoid bursting firecrackers near residential buildings and on footpaths.
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Rockets and other aerial firecrackers are banned within Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits till November 25. The article does not state that all types of firecrackers are prohibited.
The restrictions followed three major fires in Mumbai on Diwali night. The mayor warned that rockets and aerial firecrackers could reach homes, damage property and endanger lives.
The mayor urged residents not to burst firecrackers on footpaths or in public places. She also asked them to stay away from residential buildings and other occupied buildings.
No casualties were reported in any of the three fires. The incidents damaged shacks, shops, a garage and parts of a commercial building.
One of the fires broke out at Haji Kasam Chawl, a terraced house on Dr Maheshwari Road in Dongri, around 10pm on Sunday. Originally classified as a Level I fire, it was subsequently upgraded to a Level II fire, requiring additional firefighting personnel and equipment.
Firefighters took more than nine hours to bring the fire under control, operations ended at 7:23 am on Monday, a civic official said.
Several shacks and shops were damaged as the fire spread to electrical wiring and fixtures, wooden furniture, LPG cylinders, chemical drums and tarps, the official added.
At 10:51 pm on Sunday, a second degree II fire was reported in a garage on Marol Military Road in Andheri near a school. Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire at 3:50 a.m. on Monday after nearly five hours of intervention.
The third fire broke out at Skyline Vida, a 10-storey commercial building near Jolly Gymkhana in Vidyavihar, at 11.56 pm on Sunday. The flames spread from the seventh to the 10th floor.
Firefighters classified the event as a fire II. degrees at 12:52 p.m. After nearly six hours of firefighting operations, the fire was doused at 5:55 a.m. on Monday, an official said.
Mayor of Mumbai’s challenge
Meanwhile, Mayor Ritu Tawde appealed to the residents through a video message, urging them to prioritize safety while celebrating the festival and be careful when bursting firecrackers.
“Our festive celebration should not become a reason for someone else’s sadness. Safety must be our top priority,” she said.
Citing the directions of the Bombay High Court, Tawde asked citizens not to burst firecrackers on roads or in public places.
It also warned against igniting rockets and other aerial firecrackers, saying they could reach homes, cause property damage and endanger lives.
The mayor further urged residents to burst crackers from residential buildings and other occupied buildings to avoid accidents, injuries and damage to property.
“Let’s celebrate responsibly and make sure our festivities don’t come at the expense of someone else’s safety,” Tawde said.
(This is a developing story. More to come)
