Cracker-related accidents during Deepavali keep firefighters on their toes

Firefighters dousing the fire caused by bursting of crackers in Pudukottai district on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Firefighters in Tiruchi and its neighbouring districts were on their toes attending to a slew of distress calls regarding accidents caused by bursting of crackers on Deepavali festival on Sunday. All of them were “small fires” with no injuries and casualties reported. Firefighters in Tiruchi, Perambalur, and Pudukottai districts were on alert on the eve of Deepavali and on the festival day with entire strength having been mobilised to attend swiftly to calls and any other emergencies.The number of fire accidents caused by bursting of crackers and firing of rockets reported in Tiruchi district was nine while it was six in Pudukottai district and four in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts. Fire and Rescue Services officials said bursting of crackers and firing of rockets caused fire on a few thatched huts, haystacks, besides in a few coconut trees with no injuries and casualties.Fire accidents in Tiruchi city were reported in E. Pudur, K.K. Nagar, Kottapattu, Iyyappan Nagar, Srinivasa Nagar near Vayalur Road, Melachinthamani and Srirangam besides one at Tiruverumbur.In Pudukottai district, fire was reported in Mahatma Gandhipuram, Thirumalairayasamudram, Nizam Colony, Manavalangarai, Vijayapuram, Manavalangarai, and Malayakovil. Fire calls in Perambalur district were reported in Perambalur and Veppur and one in Senthurai in Ariyalur district.Meanwhile, 22 persons who sustained injuries while bursting crackers were brought to the burns unit set up at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Tiruchi on the Deepavali festival. Of them, 17 persons, including two boys and two girls, were admitted as inpatients and the remaining were treated as out-patients. The patients required only dressing and no surgical procedures were carried out, said the hospital sources. Published - November 09, 2026 06:00 pm IST