Firefighters on high alert for Diwali
The Fire Department in Sirsa is fully prepared to handle potential fire incidents during Diwali. To ensure quick response, 29 fire trucks and eight motorcycles are strategically placed throughout the district. The department has also cancelled all staff leave to maintain full force during the festival. Fire services are integrated with the emergency helpline 112, so immediate action can be taken if needed.
For the festival season, especially Diwali, the Fire Department is on high alert. With a recent ban on regular firecrackers, officials expect fewer fire-related calls but remain ready. Small fire incidents are expected and firetrucks and personnel will be stationed in areas with higher fire risk, including crowded markets and narrow streets.
Ashwani Kaushik, District Fire Officer in Sirsa, reassured that the department was on full alert. Firetrucks were stationed across high-risk zones to ensure quick action if needed. “We’re prepared for any situation,” he added.
To manage pollution, District Magistrate Shantanu Sharma has banned the production, sale, and use of all firecrackers except green ones from October 22, 2024, to January 31, 2025. Green crackers will be allowed during Diwali, Gurpurb, Christmas and New Year’s eve but only within specific hours. For Diwali and Gurpurb, the crackers are allowed between 8 pm and 10 pm; for Christmas and New Year’s eve, from 11.55 pm to 12.30 am.
Online platforms like Flipkart and Amazon are also prohibited from accepting firecracker orders during this period. Strict action will be taken against anyone violating these regulations.
Increase in stubble burning cases ahead of Diwali
The district is seeing a rise in stubble burning cases, further straining air quality. The police have registered FIRs against farmers for this violation. A total of 21 stubble burning sites have been identified so far and officials are struggling to reduce these incidents despite enforcement measures. Diwali often sees stubble-burning peak, worsening pollution levels. Last year, the air quality index (AQI) hit 350 around Diwali and with AQI currently at 170, officials expect it to rise further.
