Diwali Turns Tragic: Mumbai Fires and Fatal Accidents Across India

Firecracker-related fires and accidents claimed lives across India during Diwali 2026, with Mumbai alone recording 142 fire calls on Diwali day.

Diwali 2026: Fires, Deaths and Accidents Reported Across India

Diwali celebrations this year were followed by several serious incidents across India, including major fires, fatal accidents and a shooting after an argument over firecrackers. Mumbai recorded a sharp rise in fire calls, while Delhi faced severe air pollution even before the festival.

Mumbai Records 142 Fire Calls on Diwali

The Mumbai Fire Brigade received 142 fire calls on November 8, Diwali day. Of these, 137 were linked to firecrackers.

One of the biggest fires broke out at Haji Kasam Chawl in Dongri at around 10 pm. The blaze spread through several shops and huts, reaching electrical wiring, wooden furniture, LPG cylinders, chemical drums and plastic sheets. Firefighters worked for more than nine hours to bring it under control. The fire was finally controlled at around 7:30 am on November 9.

Another major fire broke out at Skyline Vida, a 10-storey commercial building in Vidyavihar, close to midnight. The blaze spread across the seventh to tenth floors. No deaths were reported in the incident.

A separate fire between Virar and Nalasopara, suspected to have been caused by firecrackers, damaged railway signalling cables. The incident affected train operations, with 35 local services cancelled and around 150 delayed on November 9.

16-Year-Old Dies in Malvani Shop Fire

A 16-year-old boy died after a fire broke out inside a shop storing firecrackers and electrical materials in Malvani, Malad. The fire was reported at around 9:56 pm on November 9. The shop, measuring approximately 20 by 30 feet, caught fire after firecrackers and electrical materials inside it ignited. An explosion followed, causing the shop's slab to collapse.

The boy was initially reported missing. After firefighters brought the blaze under control around 10:36 pm, he was found inside the shop with 100% burn injuries. He was declared dead.

Army Jawan Shot During Firecracker Dispute in Uttar Pradesh

In another incident, a 26-year-old Army jawan, Saurabh Tomar, was shot in the head following an argument over firecrackers in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh on November 8. Tomar, who serves with the President's Bodyguard and is posted at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, had returned to his village on leave to celebrate Diwali with his family.

He was bursting firecrackers outside his house with his brothers when two neighbours, Dheeraj and Monu, objected. An argument followed, and Dheeraj allegedly opened fire with a country-made pistol.

The bullet first struck a nearby wall before hitting Tomar in the head, behind his ear. He was taken to a community health centre and later shifted to Meerut for further treatment. Doctors performed surgery to remove the bullet. His condition was reported to be stable after the operation.

Other Fatal Firecracker Incidents Across India

Several other incidents were reported in different states during the festive period.

Delhi: A 10-year-old boy died in Narela after a hand-held flower-pot firecracker exploded while he was holding it.
Rajasthan: In Pali district, a firecracker-related fire spread to shops in Falna, killing a woman and her husband. A relative was seriously injured while trying to rescue them.
Rajasthan: A 12-year-old boy in Bundi died after a firecracker exploded beneath a steel tumbler. A piece of the shattered tumbler struck his chest.
Odisha: A seven-year-old boy died in a house fire in Cuttack. The fire was suspected to have started from a diya before spreading to firecrackers and other materials inside the house.
Tamil Nadu: The state health department reported two deaths from burn injuries during the 48-hour period from November 7 to November 9.

Mumbai Bans Rockets and Aerial Firecrackers

Following the series of fires, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) announced a ban on rockets and other aerial firecrackers across Mumbai on November 9. The restriction will remain in force until 11:59 pm on November 25. It applies to both public and private spaces, including building terraces, balconies, rooftops, parking areas, residential buildings and slum areas.

The BMC said rockets can travel in unexpected directions and land on buildings, balconies or rooftops, potentially starting fires.

Delhi Records Severe Air Pollution Before Diwali

While Mumbai dealt with fire incidents, Delhi faced another major concern: air pollution.

On November 7, a day before Diwali, Delhi was ranked the world's most polluted major city in IQAir's live ranking. At 10:35 am, the Swiss air-quality monitoring group recorded the city's US AQI at 581. At the same time, Lahore in Pakistan recorded an AQI of 285, less than half of Delhi's reading. These figures use the US AQI scale and should not be confused with India's official AQI system.

With pollution levels already high before Diwali, authorities ordered schools in and around Delhi to offer online classes and encouraged people to work from home wherever possible.

The incidents across the country once again brought attention to the risks associated with firecrackers, including fires, serious injuries, deaths, disruption to public services and worsening air quality.