MUMBAI — In a decisive move to curb air pollution and prevent fire hazards, civic authorities and district administrations across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and neighboring cities have rolled out strict restrictions on the use of firecrackers. Taking serious note of a recent surge in fire emergencies, the Thane district administration has imposed a blanket ban on sky rockets and similar aerial firecrackers. The prohibitory order comes into immediate effect and will remain in force for an extended period. This emergency measure was prompted by a series of fire incidents reported across the district during recent celebrations, where burning residues from aerial fireworks fell onto residential buildings and flammable materials, damaging property and endangering lives.
In tandem with the district’s orders, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has issued its own stringent guidelines. Authorities have mandated that only environmentally friendly “green crackers” are permitted. The bursting of any fireworks is now strictly prohibited in public spaces, including main roads, alleys, footpaths, and public grounds, as well as in designated “silence zones” such as hospitals, courts, and educational institutions.

Furthermore, a strict nighttime curfew has been implemented; bursting crackers is completely banned between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The new regulations also prohibit the use of laser lights and mandate strict authorization and safety protocols for all firecracker vendors. Similar preventive measures are being echoed by surrounding civic bodies, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). These authorities have restricted the bursting of firecrackers in public spaces and set up dedicated helplines to report noise and air pollution violations.
This sweeping crackdown comes amid escalating health concerns. Officials highlighted that high noise levels and toxic smoke pose severe health risks to young children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and individuals with cardiovascular or respiratory conditions.
Authorities have appealed to all citizens to cooperate with the regulations and prioritize public safety. Residents wishing to report any violations, illegal vendor stalls, or excessive noise can log complaints directly via the pollution control board helplines or through the respective municipal grievance portals and toll-free numbers.

Following a fire that broke out last night—during the Diwali festival—at a warehouse and garage in the Dongri area of ​​Mumbai, the police are set to initiate an investigation, pending the fire department’s report and the determination of the causes. Significant damage has also been reported due to fires in several suburban areas, including Kurla, Ghatkopar, and Borivali. In the wake of the Dongri incident, local residents were immediately evacuated; given the severity of the blaze, the police will conduct a formal inquiry. In light of the recurring fire incidents during Diwali, the Mayor of Mumbai has urged the public to exercise caution when using firecrackers and has expressed concern over the spate of fires across the city. The police have now launched an investigation into these Diwali-related fire incidents, and a formal case will be registered following the submission of an initial report. This was confirmed by DCP (Operations) Akbar Pathan, who stated that investigations into these incidents are currently underway, though the specific causes have yet to be determined. Once the exact causes are established, appropriate action will be taken.

New Delhi : Delhi witnessed a sharp deterioration in air quality on Monday, a day after Diwali celebrations, with pollution levels reaching the ‘Severe’ category in several localities, according to monitoring data. A dense blanket of smog covered several parts of the national Capital in the morning hours, considerably reducing visibility. The situation was particularly noticeable around Inderlok and other residential areas. Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 376, placing it in the ‘Very Poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer application. However, several monitoring stations registered considerably higher pollution levels. Sonia Vihar topped the list with an AQI of 449, followed by Burari Crossing at 445 and Vivek Vihar at 441, as per a Pollution Dashboard.

Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 439, while Delhi University’s North Campus registered 437 and Rohini 435. Other locations reporting ‘Severe’ air quality included DTU (431), Bawana (424), Chandni Chowk and Patparganj (418 each), Mundka (413), NIH Narela and Punjabi Bagh (408 each), and the Commonwealth Sports Complex and ITO (404 each). The post-Diwali pollution situation has once again brought the effectiveness of measures to curb firecracker emissions into question. Despite restrictions and directions issued by the Supreme Court, firecrackers continued to be burst in several parts of Delhi beyond the permitted hours. The situation has also drawn attention to the functioning of agencies responsible for monitoring air quality. According to an NDTV report, pollution levels in several neighbourhoods had climbed significantly above prescribed limits on Diwali night.

R.K. Puram and Nehru Nagar, near Lajpat Nagar, were among the worst-affected locations until 9 p.m. The real-time monitoring system initially reflected a steep upward movement in pollution levels. However, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) website reportedly stopped displaying live readings from several monitoring stations for a few hours. The affected locations included R.K. Puram, Nehru Nagar, Mundka, Sonia Vihar and Dwarka, raising concerns over the availability of monitoring data during the peak pollution period. Separately, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra targeted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that a campaign was being run from the latter’s residence to malign the festival of Deepavali under the guise of concerns over pollution. Official figures also indicated that pollution levels in certain parts of Delhi exceeded the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended limits by more than 50 times after residents continued bursting firecrackers beyond the Supreme Court’s 10 p.m. deadline.