Fire Emergencies Surge in Assam During Diwali Celebrations

Increase in Fire Incidents During Diwali

Guwahati, Nov 10: The Diwali festivities in Assam have once again led to a spike in fire-related emergencies, with the Assam Fire and Emergency Services reporting 190 incidents on November 8 and 9. This total includes 185 fire calls and five special rescue requests.

Among the fire calls, 69 were linked to firecrackers, highlighting their significant role in the emergency responses during this period.

On November 9 alone, the department logged 78 incidents, which comprised 76 fire calls and two special requests, with 20 of these incidents connected to firecrackers.

Kamrup (Metro) was particularly affected, accounting for 23 incidents, including 21 fire calls and two special requests. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported despite five major fires in the district.

The situation escalated on November 8, when the department received 112 emergency calls, including 109 fire calls and three special requests.

On that day, 49 fire calls were attributed to firecrackers, with Kamrup (Metro) reporting 24 incidents, including 22 fire calls and two special requests. Three major fires were recorded on this date.

In total, the two-day period saw 69 incidents related to firecrackers, indicating that while they were a significant source of emergencies, they were not the sole cause of the fires.

The nature of the major fires further underscores the challenges faced. For instance, on November 9, a fire in Milan Nagar, Datalpara, destroyed a house used as a carton godown.

Firefighters work to douse flames and assess damage in Morigaon (Image)

In Maligaon's No. 3 Gate, a fire engulfed two Assam-type houses and a G+1 RCC building, resulting in an LPG cylinder explosion that caused minor burns to one individual. Firefighters from Pandu, Guwahati, and Lokhra worked together to control the blaze.

The incidents on November 8 were equally alarming, with seven shops affected by a fire in Simen Chapori and nine shops engulfed in flames in Pathsala town. Additionally, a bicycle godown in North Lakhimpur caught fire, and a residential house made of tin, wood, and bamboo in Sonapur's Amfear area was gutted, leaving one person injured.

Trends in Fire Calls

Data from the Assam Fire and Emergency Services over the past three years indicates a decline in the total number of fire calls during the Diwali reporting periods.

In 2023, the state recorded 73 fire calls in the first reporting period, followed by 60 in the second, totaling 133. In 2024, these numbers dropped to 42 and 31, respectively, for a total of 73. In 2025, there were 46 calls in the first period and 20 in the second, totaling 66.

Despite the overall decline in incidents, major fires have not disappeared. In 2024, six major fires were reported in the first period and two in the second. In 2025, four major fires occurred in the first period and three in the second.

Kamrup (Metro), which includes Guwahati, has consistently appeared in the department's Diwali fire records. In 2023, it reported 13 fire calls in the first period and 11 in the second. In 2024, it recorded 11 calls in the first period, including four major fires, followed by six calls in the second. In 2025, eight fire calls were logged in the first period, and in 2026, the district reported 43 fire calls over November 8 and 9.

Firecrackers Not the Sole Cause

One key takeaway from historical data is that fire emergencies during Diwali cannot be solely blamed on firecrackers. Other factors such as electrical short circuits, earthen lamps, and LPG leaks have also contributed to significant fires in previous festive seasons.

In 2023, a serious fire in Jorabat, Kamrup (Metro), caused by an electrical short circuit, resulted in a woman's death.

The following year, a fire in Thanamukh, Sivasagar, involving ten rented rooms, was suspected to have originated from an electrical short circuit, leading to one fatality and another person sustaining burn injuries. In Mirza, a major fire involving a house and a shop was thought to have been triggered by an earthen lamp, injuring two women. Other incidents included an LPG leak-related fire in Silchar and a serious fire in a residential-commercial building in Jorhat that claimed one life.

In 2025, an apartment fire in Beltola, under Dispur Police Station, resulted in one person suffering 10 percent burn injuries.

Need for Stricter Firecracker Regulations?

The recent statistics prompt the question of whether Assam should consider more stringent regulations on firecrackers beyond standard festive safety advisories. Mumbai has implemented stricter measures following a rise in fire incidents during Diwali, banning the use of rockets and aerial firecrackers until November 25 after recording 137 firecracker-related fires on November 8 alone, which left two women injured.

While the circumstances differ, Mumbai's decision raises the issue of whether restricting high-risk fireworks during sensitive periods could help mitigate emergencies in densely populated urban areas.

Firefighters attending a fire call in Digboi (Image)

For Assam, particularly in Guwahati, regulating aerial firecrackers and rockets in densely populated residential areas and commercial zones could be a preventive strategy. However, addressing the larger issue requires more than just firecracker regulation. Regular fire safety inspections of shops and godowns, monitoring temporary firecracker markets, and awareness campaigns on safe electrical installations and the use of earthen lamps could significantly reduce risks.

Ultimately, Assam's challenge lies not only in responding to fires after they occur but also in proactively identifying and mitigating risks before celebrations escalate into emergencies.