Diwali 2026: Firecracker-Related Incidents, Injuries, Fires and Air Pollution Reported Across India

NATIONAL SPECIAL REPORT | 11 NOVEMBER 2026

India's Diwali 2026 celebrations were accompanied by reports of firecracker-related deaths and injuries, residential and commercial fires, disruptions to aviation operations and increased air pollution in several parts of the country.

From Delhi and Mumbai to Pune, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Telangana, various incidents and emergency situations were reported during and immediately after the festival. Emergency services responded to fires, hospitals treated burn and eye injuries, and some airports reported operational challenges linked to smoke and airborne objects.

According to a real-time global ranking published by AQI.in on November 9, 93 Indian cities appeared among the world's 100 most polluted locations. The figures were based on readings recorded at a particular time and should be viewed in that context.

1. FIRECRACKER-RELATED INCIDENTS ACROSS INDIA

The following incidents were reported by various news organisations during the Diwali period.

Rajasthan: Two killed in firecracker-shop blaze

In Falna, Pali district, a major fire broke out near Swarn Mandir around 10 PM on November 8.

• Three shops were gutted.
• Two people were killed.
• One person sustained burn injuries.
• Three others were initially reported missing.
• Two scooters, a motorcycle and a bicycle were destroyed.

Preliminary information indicated that sparks from fireworks being burst on the road may have reached a nearby firecracker shop and triggered the blaze.

Delhi: 10-year-old boy killed

In Narela, a 10-year-old boy reportedly died after a rocket firecracker struck him in the stomach. Police initiated an investigation into the incident.

Pune: 63 fire incidents reported in one day

Pune reported 63 fire incidents during Laxmi Pujan. According to India Today, the incidents were attributed to firecrackers. Firefighters responded to the calls, and no casualties or injuries were reported.

Odisha: One teenager killed, more than 100 injured

In Rourkela, a Class VIII student, Chinmaya Kumar Sahu, died after a firecracker exploded inside a glass bottle. Shards from the broken bottle also injured his sister.

Across Odisha:

• More than 100 people were reported injured in separate firecracker-related incidents.
• Around 80 people received treatment at SCB Medical College, Cuttack.
• Around 40 were treated at Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
• At least 28 people sought treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

Firecracker-related sparks were also suspected in fires involving a government silk-farming office, a bus and two thatched houses.

Nagpur: Showroom fire destroys two-wheelers

A fire broke out at the Sai Dynamics TVS showroom in Savarkar Nagar, Nagpur. Several two-wheelers were destroyed. Firecrackers were reported as the suspected cause.

Jammu: At least 12 shops gutted

A major fire swept through Nehru Market in Jammu's Warehouse area. At least 12 shops were gutted. No casualties were reported.

Thane: Fire reported in a 17-storey residential building

A fire broke out at the Carlyle building in Raheja Garden, Wagle Estate. Rescue teams and firefighters worked to evacuate residents. No injuries were reported in the initial report.

Mumbai: Shops and hutments affected by fire

A major fire broke out at Haji Kasam Chawl near Datta Mandir in Dongri, engulfing several shops and hutments.

Gangtok: Government residential quarter catches fire

A government quarter in Forest Colony caught fire on November 8. Preliminary reports suggested that firecrackers may have been the cause.

Uttar Pradesh: Scrap shop destroyed in Banda

A scrap shop on Baberu Road was gutted. The owner alleged that someone had thrown firecrackers into the premises and estimated the financial loss at ₹20–25 lakh. The allegation had not been independently established.

Bihar: Around 110 fire calls

Bihar's Fire Services Department received approximately 110 fire calls across the state over a 48-hour period.

• Patna accounted for 42 incidents.
• Most were reported as minor fires, with firecracker sparks cited as a possible cause in several cases.
• No deaths or injuries were reported in the statewide fire-call tally.

Around 30–40 residents were rescued from an apartment in Kankarbagh after smoke engulfed the building.

2. HOSPITALS REPORT BURN AND EYE INJURIES

The impact of the celebrations was also reflected in hospital and emergency-service reports from several states.

Delhi: 499 reported injury cases

Five hospitals reported a combined 499 Diwali-related injury cases between November 8 and 9.

Hospital	Reported Cases
GTB Hospital	172
AIIMS Delhi	152
Safdarjung Hospital	142
RML Hospital	18
Aakash Healthcare	15
Total	499

The reported cases included burns, eye injuries and foreign particles embedded in the eyes.

At AIIMS, approximately 110 patients were treated for Diwali-related eye injuries. At Safdarjung Hospital, 129 of 135 reported burn cases were attributed to firecrackers. The hospital figures also included some injuries caused by diyas as well as fireworks.

Hyderabad: More than 190 injured

More than 190 people reportedly suffered burn injuries during Diwali celebrations in Hyderabad. According to The Times of India, approximately half of those injured were children.

Tamil Nadu: Emergency services record burn-related cases

Official emergency-response figures for November 7–9 recorded:

• 462 burn-related emergency calls.
• 430 burn-related inpatient admissions.
• 2,541 trauma-related admissions.
• 1,127 assault-related admissions.
• Two deaths from burn injuries.

The 108 ambulance network received 39,634 calls during the 48-hour period. These figures cover broader emergency categories, and not every burn or trauma case can automatically be attributed to firecrackers.

3. MUMBAI: 200 FIRECRACKER-RELATED FIRE CALLS

Figures released by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation showed a significant number of fire calls during the Diwali period.

Between November 6 and 10 AM on November 9, the Mumbai Fire Brigade received:

• 282 total fire calls.
• 200 firecracker-related calls.
• 137 firecracker-related calls on November 8 alone.

On November 8, the fire brigade received 142 calls, of which 137 were reported as related to firecrackers.

The BMC subsequently prohibited rockets and other aerial fireworks across Mumbai until November 25.

4. FIRECRACKERS, SKY LANTERNS AND AVIATION SAFETY

Two aviation-related developments during the Diwali period also drew attention.

Bhubaneswar: Viral claim about aircraft and firecracker remains unverified

A video circulated on social media on November 8 claimed that a firecracker had struck an Air India aircraft during landing at Bhubaneswar.

However, subsequent reporting by The Times of India cited airport officials as saying that several sky lanterns had drifted towards the approach corridor of aircraft landing at Biju Patnaik International Airport.

• Pilots of IndiGo flights reportedly raised concerns.
• Airport authorities alerted Air Traffic Control and local police.
• More than 100 used sky lanterns were recovered from airport operational areas.
• Some lanterns had fallen close to parked aircraft.

Airport officials said that no aircraft was hit and flight operations remained unaffected. Therefore, the specific claim that an Air India aircraft was struck by a firecracker remained unverified. The confirmed incident involved sky lanterns entering the vicinity of aircraft approach routes.

Chennai: 26 flights disrupted by firecracker smoke

On November 8, thick smoke from firecrackers affected operations at Chennai airport.

• 11 incoming flights experienced delays.
• 15 departing flights were delayed.
• An IndiGo flight carrying 156 passengers from Raipur was unable to land.
• The aircraft returned to Bengaluru.

The smoke reduced runway visibility, prompting airport authorities to closely monitor conditions.

INDIA'S POST-DIWALI AIR-POLLUTION SITUATION

Air-quality readings also showed elevated pollution levels in several Indian cities following Diwali.

According to a real-time AQI.in global ranking published on November 9, 93 Indian cities appeared among the world's 100 most polluted locations. The ranking was updated at 10:05 AM on November 9.

Selected locations from the reported global ranking:

Global Position	City	Reported AQI
1	Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan	868
2	Faridkot, Punjab	842
3	Bathinda, Punjab	797
4	Sirsa, Haryana	612
5	Bhiwani, Haryana	548
6	Budaun, Uttar Pradesh	489
7	Hisar, Haryana	485
8	Amritsar, Punjab	451
9	Lahore, Pakistan	446
10	Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh	440

Selected major Indian cities and reported AQI:

City	AQI
New Delhi	380
Lucknow	344
Kanpur	337
Ghaziabad	331
Greater Noida	327
Noida	307
Bhopal	284
Pune	278
Patna	258
Varanasi	243
Rajkot	242

These were AQI.in readings recorded at a particular time. On India's CPCB scale, an AQI of 400 or above falls into the severe category.

Air pollution is influenced by multiple sources, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction and road dust, crop-residue burning, waste burning and weather conditions that can restrict the dispersion of pollutants. Firecracker emissions can add to the pollution burden during the festival period.

Fireworks release pollutants including PM2.5 and PM10 particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and metal-containing particles. Exposure to these pollutants can aggravate respiratory conditions and affect people who are particularly vulnerable, including children, elderly people and those with existing heart or lung conditions.

THE OVERALL IMPACT

Reports from different parts of India during the Diwali period included:

• Deaths linked to firecracker-related incidents.
• More than 100 reported injuries across Odisha.
• Hundreds of reported injury cases in Delhi hospitals.
• More than 190 reported burn injuries in Hyderabad.
• 63 reported fire incidents in Pune.
• 200 firecracker-related fire calls in Mumbai.
• Around 110 fire calls in Bihar.
• Damage to shops, homes, vehicles and commercial establishments.
• Sky lanterns entering an airport's aircraft approach corridor in Bhubaneswar.
• 26 flight disruptions at Chennai airport.
• 93 Indian cities appearing in a reported global top-100 pollution ranking.

These figures represent reported incidents from different locations and time periods and should not be combined to create a single nationwide casualty or injury total.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

The incidents reported during Diwali 2026 highlight concerns related to fire safety, injuries, emergency response, aviation operations and air quality.

Firecracker-related accidents can result in burns, eye injuries and property damage, while smoke and particulate emissions can contribute to deteriorating air quality. Aviation-related incidents involving smoke or airborne objects also demonstrate the need for precautions around airports and aircraft operations.

Authorities and citizens therefore face the challenge of balancing festival celebrations with public safety, environmental considerations and the protection of vulnerable groups.

CONCLUSION

Diwali 2026 saw celebrations across the country alongside a series of reported firecracker-related accidents, emergency calls, injuries, fires and air-quality concerns.

The incidents underline the importance of responsible celebrations, fire-safety precautions, adherence to local regulations and greater awareness of the potential risks associated with fireworks.

The report draws on published reporting and official figures available as of November 11, 2026.