Thane District Collector Shrikrushna Panchal has banned rockets and similar aerial firecrackers across Thane district till January 8, 2027, in an order that came into effect on Monday, The Hindu reported. The ban — described as a first for Maharashtra — follows a rise in fire incidents during Diwali, with at least 11 fire incidents reported in Thane.

Source: The Hindu via GotoNews coverage

The order is the major new development a day after the earlier fire this desk reported in the 17-storey Carlyle building of the Raheja Garden complex at Wagle Estate, where a blaze on the 8th, 9th and 10th floors on Sunday evening forced fire brigade and disaster-response teams to rescue 50 residents, with no casualties.

Read the earlier report on the Carlyle building fire and rescue operation in Thane here. Thane: Fire in 17-Storey Carlyle Building at Wagle Estate Triggers Major Rescue Operation

Panchal, who reached the Carlyle building during the rescue, had announced the decision at the site itself. ANI reported him saying that, following fire-related incidents allegedly linked to the use of rockets during Diwali, it had been decided to impose a ban on such rocket-style fireworks, effective from the next day.

Source: ANI via Daily Prabhat

Mumbai followed with its own order on Monday. The Mumbai Disaster Management Authority has banned the use of rockets and aerial firecrackers within Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits until November 25, PTI reported, citing civic officials. A separate report said the order, issued by the authority led by Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajakta Verma-Lavangare, runs from November 9 until 11:59 pm on November 25 and covers residential areas including rooftops, balconies and slum pockets.

Source: PTI via Curly Tales

The Mumbai ban came after three major fires on Diwali night damaged huts, shops, a garage and parts of a commercial building, with no casualties reported. A Level-II fire at Haji Kasam Chawl on Dr Maheshwari Road in Dongri broke out around 10 pm on Sunday and took more than nine hours to control, ending at 7:23 am on Monday; a second Level-II fire at a garage on Marol Military Road in Andheri was reported at 10:51 pm and extinguished at 3:50 am; and a third fire at the 10-storey Skyline Vida commercial building near Jolly Gymkhana in Vidyavihar, reported at 11:56 pm, spread from the seventh to the 10th floor before being brought under control at 5:55 am, PTI reported citing the Free Press Journal and civic officials.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde urged residents to celebrate responsibly and avoid bursting firecrackers near residential buildings and public spaces, referring to the Bombay High Court's directions and warning that rockets and aerial firecrackers can enter homes, damage property and put lives at risk, PTI reported.

Officials said the restrictions target firecrackers that fly into the sky and can land on rooftops, balconies, windows and other combustible material. The Thane order will remain in force through the winter festive season till January 8, 2027, while Mumbai's order runs till November 25.