Multiple fire incidents during religious festivities of Diwali gives the Mumbai Disaster Management Authority reason to ban bursting of rockets and aerial firecrackers till November 25 across the city.
The ban, made public on Monday, will be in force in all parts of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) area. The order says that rockets of any nature will not be permitted in the residential buildings, on the rooftops and balconies or in slums pockets.
The verdict was arrived at following 3 big fires in the various areas of Mumbai on the Diwali night alone. Several huts were damaged including shops, a garage and some areas of a commercial building.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajakta Verma-Lavangare signed the order, pointing out the significant risk of fire from rockets and other firecrackers released in the air getting stuck in rooftops, balconies, windows or combustible materials.
The authorities said that Mumbai, with its high density of its slum clusters, high-rise buildings and residential and commercial buildings, is highly susceptible to aerial firecrackers triggering fire accidents.
The ban came into effect on November 9 and will remain in force until 11.59 pm on November 25, 2026.
The measures with respect to others type of firecrackers will still be effective under the old laws, directions, and judicial orders issued by competent authorities, it clarified.
The interim move is to minimise the possibility of any further fire-related mishaps and save human lives and properties from across Mumbai.