Diwali Turns Tragic in India as Fires and Accidents Kill at Least 43
The Hindu festival of Diwali is meant to be a festival of joy and peace. But this year, it has turned into a tragic event in several parts of India. At least 43 people have died across the country due to fireworks, major fires in homes and businesses, and road accidents.
More than 500 people are also being treated in different hospitals for serious burns and severe eye injuries. Deaths have been reported from several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Odisha. The incidents have raised questions about fire safety and the authorities’ preparation during the festival.
13 Killed in Fires in Madhya Pradesh
The most tragic fires on Diwali night took place in Madhya Pradesh. At least 13 people died in separate house fires in the districts of Seoni, Ujjain and Katni.
A major fire broke out at a house in Seoni district. Twelve people, including six members of the same family, died in the fire. The residents were trapped inside the house and could not escape.
In Ujjain district, an elderly man died after a fire broke out at a house.
The most heartbreaking incident happened in Barhi town of Katni district. A fire suddenly broke out at a three-storey residential-cum-commercial building on Diwali night. The fire quickly spread throughout the building.
Six members of the same family, including a child and a two-month-old baby, died in the fire. Two other children also died.
There was strong anger over the role of the fire service. Four fire service units reached the scene, but the fire continued for hours. The six people could not be rescued alive.
Katni Collector Ashish Tiwari publicly apologised to the victims’ families and local residents. He admitted that the authorities could not save the six lives even though four fire service vehicles were at the scene.
Eight Killed in Maharashtra Fires
At least eight people died in separate fires in Maharashtra.
In Dharashiv, a fire broke out in a house built above a grocery shop. Six members of the same family died after inhaling smoke.
A man also died in a fire in Mumbai’s Lokhandwala area.
Another major incident took place at a firecracker storage warehouse in Malvani, Malad West, Mumbai. A loud explosion occurred at 9:56pm. The force of the explosion caused the slab above the one-storey shop to collapse, and a fire broke out inside.
A 16-year-old boy named Shahnewaz Niyaz Khan went missing after the explosion. At 10:36pm, the Mumbai Fire Brigade brought the fire under control. His completely burned body was found inside the shop. Doctors at Kandivali’s BDBA Hospital later declared him dead.
Mumbai recorded 142 fire incidents during Diwali. Firecrackers caused 137 of them. Fortunately, no separate deaths or injuries were reported in these incidents.
In Pune, 94 fire incidents were recorded on Lakshmi Puja night in several areas, including Satara Road, Mangalwar Peth and Range Hills.
Child Dies in Delhi, About 500 Treated in Hospitals
In India’s capital Delhi, a child died after being hit by a firecracker. Hundreds of injured people also went to hospitals.
In the Narela area, a 10-year-old boy named Rishi was standing outside his house when a skyrocket hit him directly in the chest. Doctors declared him dead after he was taken to hospital. His family alleged medical negligence.
During the Diwali celebrations, about 500 people were treated at hospitals in Delhi and nearby areas for burns and other injuries caused by firecrackers and accidents.
At AIIMS’ Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, about 110 people were admitted with eye injuries from November 8 to the early hours of November 9. Most of them were children and young people.
The injuries of 72 patients were not considered a serious threat to their eyesight. However, 18 patients had torn or damaged corneas and needed emergency surgery. Another 20 patients were given surgery dates.
The plastic and burn surgery department of AIIMS received 42 burn patients. Among them, 37 were burned by firecrackers and two by potassium explosions. An eight-year-old child admitted to the department suffered burns to 45 percent of the body and was in critical condition.
At Safdarjung Hospital, 135 children and elderly people received treatment for burns caused by firecrackers and oil lamps. Of them, 35 were children under 12.
RML Hospital treated 41 injured patients, while Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital treated 172. At Aakash Healthcare, 15 people were admitted, including 11 with serious eye injuries caused by pieces of exploding firecrackers.
17 Killed in Road Accidents in Uttar Pradesh
Diwali celebrations were also marked by deadly road accidents across Uttar Pradesh. At least 17 people were killed and 55 seriously injured in six major road accidents on November 9.
The most tragic accident happened near Jagahedi village in Muzaffarnagar district. A car carrying six young men from Haryana was travelling towards Haridwar. The car hit a road sign and an electricity pole at high speed and overturned.
The car caught fire within moments. All six young men inside the car were burned to death.
Several other people were also killed in separate accidents in Chitrakoot, where a tractor-trolley overturned, and on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway, where a bus was involved in an accident.
Deaths Reported in Rajasthan, Odisha and Hyderabad
In Falna town of Rajasthan, a fire broke out at a firecracker shop on Diwali night. Two people died and three others remain missing.
The fire was difficult to control because firecrackers were stored inside the shop.
In Odisha’s Cuttack, a seven-year-old child died after a sudden fire broke out at a house in the Dargah Bazar area.
In Hyderabad, at least 32 people, most of them children, were admitted to Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital after suffering eye injuries while setting off firecrackers.
The deaths and injuries during Diwali across India show the dangers linked to unsafe firecracker use, storing firecrackers in residential areas, careless driving and delays in fire response.
