The Telangana State Fire Department reports a significant achievement: despite a 25% increase in licensed firecracker shops over the last two years, Diwali-related fire incidents have dramatically decreased.
Statistics confirm this positive trend. Temporary licenses for small-scale firecracker vendors (selling under 100 kg) jumped from 6,439 in 2023 to 7,516 in 2024, reaching 8,019 by 2025. Crucially, during the Diwali festive period, fire incidents plummeted from 164 in 2023 to just 95 in 2024. This notable reduction underscores the effectiveness of enhanced safety protocols and growing public awareness.
With Diwali approaching on October 20, the Telangana Fire Department has released a comprehensive public safety advisory. It strongly encourages residents to remain vigilant and adhere to essential precautions when using firecrackers, traditional diyas, and festive lighting.
Key recommendations from the advisory include purchasing fireworks exclusively from authorized sellers, igniting them in open areas far from structures and vehicles, and having immediate access to water buckets, sand, or fire extinguishers. The department also emphasizes constant adult supervision for children and wearing cotton or flame-resistant attire. Furthermore, people are advised to choose environmentally friendly diyas and quieter crackers to minimize environmental pollution and potential disturbance to animals and seniors.
Important warnings highlight avoiding the use of crackers near gas cylinders or electrical setups, refraining from synthetic clothing, and never attempting to re-ignite malfunctioning fireworks. The department also explicitly advises against indoor storage of firecrackers and leaving diyas or candles unsupervised.
To guarantee swift emergency intervention, Quick Response Tenders and multi-purpose fire engines will be strategically deployed at key locations statewide. The Fire Control Room will operate 24/7, and residents can report fire emergencies by calling 101, 112, or 9949991101.