NEW DELHI: ‘Delhi Fire Service’ (DFS) received over 200 emergencies calls on Diwali despite the city government had imposed ban on bursting of firecrackers, saying that it will attract a jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 200.
The fire department had received 152 calls last year during the same period. The number this year is much higher than that of calls received last year on the same day.
According to the data of DFS, there were 152 fire related calls received in 2021. In 2020, there were 205 calls while in 2019 the department had received 245 calls related to fire instances.
Announcing the ban, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had said that production, storage and sale of firecrackers here will be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 5,000 and three years in jail under Section 9B of the Explosives Act.
A total of 408 teams have been constituted to implement the ban. The Delhi Police has set up 210 teams under assistant commissioners of police, the Department of Revenue has set up 165 teams and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has constituted 33 teams.