T.N: Over 500 people injured in firecracker-related accidents on Deepavali day

A 12-year-old boy died while bursting crackers in Ramanathapuram district on Thursday (October 31, 2024)

A 12-year-old boy died and as many as 544 persons sustained burns while bursting firecrackers on Deepavali day on Thursday (October 31, 2024) across Tamil Nadu. Ninety-five persons sustained burns while bursting crackers in Chennai alone.

According to officials of the Fire and Rescue Services Department, the 12-year-old boy from Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district of the State sustained injuries to his face and other parts of his body as he was holding lit firecrackers in his hand. He was declared dead at a government hospital in the district.

The department received over 150 emergency calls for assistance due to fires caused by cracker bursting. Last year, 254 such calls were received, and in 2022, 336 calls were received.

As many as 1,317 persons sustained burns due to bursting crackers in 2022 in the State, and 794 last year.

A senior officer of the Fire and Rescue Services Department said 254 fires due to the bursting of crackers were reported during Deepavali last year in the State. Of them, 102 occurred in Chennai city. This year, 150 fires were reported across the State, and only 48 of them were reported in the Chennai.

Compared to the previous year, the number of fires this year has come down, thanks to precautionary measures and awareness campaigns, the officer said.

347 cases registered in Chennai

The Greater Chennai City Police registered over 347 cases for bursting crackers beyond the stipulated time and those with high decibels of sound, and for running cracker shops flouting norms during Deepavali.

As per the orders of the Supreme Court and the guidelines of the Tamil Nadu government, Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun had issued an advisory to the public ahead of Deepavali, which stated that crackers should be burst only between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday. No firecrackers making more than 125 decibels of sound should be manufactured, used, or sold, he had said.

The Avadi City police has booked 65 persons in 46 cases within its jurisdiction.

Published - November 01, 2024 12:21 pm IST