Diwali ended in tragedy across several parts of the country, with at least 27 deaths reported in incidents linked to fires, firecrackers, and violent altercations on Sunday (November 8).
The toll included a 10-year-old boy in Delhi who died when a firecracker exploded in his hand, 12 people killed in two devastating residential fires in Madhya Pradesh, and multiple deaths from burns and violence in Tamil Nadu.
Delhi boy killed in firecracker blast
A shock came from Delhi’s Narela, where a 10-year-old boy died on Diwali night after a hand-held “to go” (flower-pot firecracker) exploded while he was bursting it outside his home.
Also read: Delhi records highest post-Diwali AQI since 2021, Chennai’s air quality in ‘poor’ category
The blast threw him backwards and caused fatal chest injuries, police said. While the hospital maintained that the child was brought dead, family members alleged that he was still breathing when he was taken for treatment and claimed adequate efforts were not made to save him.
Police have sent the body for post-mortem.
Twin MP fires claim 12 lives
People gather on Monday after a fire broke out at a crockery shop in a three-storey building in Katni district, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday. Six members of a family were killed. PTI Photo
Madhya Pradesh recorded the deadliest incidents of the festive period, with two separate fires claiming 12 lives within hours.
In Katni district’s Barhi town, a fire tore through a three-storey building housing a crockery shop around midnight. Six members of a family died in the blaze, including shop owner Puran Agarwal (77), his wife Chandrakala (74), daughter-in-law Poonam, granddaughters Arya (14) and Anvi (6), and a two-month-old infant.
Eyewitnesses said the infant died in Poonam’s arms as the flames engulfed the building, a scene that plunged the town into mourning.
Hours later, another fire broke out at a three-storey house in Chhapara town of Seoni district. Six members of a goldsmith’s family were killed while four others sustained injuries.
The victims were identified as Kundan Lal Soni (75), his wife Rajkumari (65), Ritu Soni (42), Smriti Soni (40), Surya Soni (45) and 16-year-old Aditya Soni. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the families of those killed in the Katni and Seoni tragedies.
Burn deaths and cracker-linked murders in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu also reported deaths and hundreds of injuries linked to Diwali celebrations.
According to the state health department, two people, including a child below 15 years, died from burn injuries during the festival period between November 7 and 9. Hospitals across the state recorded 430 burn cases, while overall inpatient admissions touched 4,098, including 2,541 trauma cases and 1,127 assault-related admissions.
The state also witnessed two fatal incidents linked to disputes over firecracker bursting.
In Theni district, a police sub-inspector succumbed to injuries after he was allegedly attacked by a group of youths whom he had reprimanded for bursting crackers on a road and obstructing traffic.
In Tiruchirappalli district, a 20-year-old IT employee visiting his hometown for the holidays was stabbed to death after an argument over the direction in which crackers were being burst. Police said intoxication and sudden rage appeared to have triggered both incidents.
Major fires but no casualties elsewhere
Several other major fires broke out across the country during the festival, though prompt rescue operations prevented further loss of life.
In Maharashtra’s Thane city, around 50 residents were rescued after a fire broke out in a 17-storey residential tower on Diwali evening. The blaze spread across multiple floors before being brought under control.
Mumbai witnessed three major fires on Diwali night in Dongri, Andheri and Vidyavihar, damaging huts, shops, vehicles and parts of a commercial building. Firefighters battled some of the blazes for several hours, but no casualties were reported.
In Jammu, a major fire gutted around a dozen shops in the historic Nehru Market, while another blaze erupted at the district police lines in Kathua. Both incidents caused extensive property damage but no loss of life.
Firefighters at the site on Monday after a fire gutted at least a dozen shops in the historic Nehru Market in Jammu on Sunday night. PTI Photo
Delhi’s air quality worsens despite curbs
Even as authorities dealt with accidents and fires, concerns over pollution resurfaced, with Indian cities topping lists of most polluted cities in the world on AQI tracking websites.
Despite restrictions on fireworks, several parts of Delhi witnessed extensive cracker-bursting through Diwali night. The city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) settled at 376 in the “very poor” category, while several monitoring stations entered the “severe” zone. Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 460.
Authorities registered dozens of cases for bursting firecrackers beyond the permitted hours, with enforcement teams deployed across the city to monitor violations.
Air quality experts have warned that Delhi’s pollution levels could worsen further due to a combination of unfavourable weather conditions, vehicular emissions, firecracker smoke and stubble burning in neighbouring states.
Commuters ride bicycles past firecracker debris littering a street on the morning after Diwali celebrations, in Prayagraj, Monday. PTI Photo
Tonnes of firecracker waste cleared
In Chennai, the environmental impact of the celebrations was visible in the massive clean-up effort that followed.
The Greater Chennai Corporation said it had already cleared around 200 tonnes of firecracker waste and deployed hundreds of additional sanitation workers and vehicles to remove another 450 tonnes over the coming days.
The civic body said public response to calls for segregating cracker waste had been limited and urged residents to cooperate in keeping roads and public spaces clean.
(With agency inputs)