The Mumbai Fire Brigade responded to 140 calls regarding fires started by crackers during the Diwali season last year, according to official figures. However, crackers burst during the non-Diwali season — amid Ganesh, Navratri, and other festival celebrations, political rallies, cricket matches and other sporting events —  resulted in 182 such calls between January 2024 and mid-October this year.

A senior official told mid-day, “Firecrackers are a major reason for fires during Diwali, and about 50 per cent to 60 per cent of the calls regarding fires during this time are due to crackers. Diyas are another cause of fires during Diwali.”