The Mumbai Police have announced a ban on selling, storing, and flying sky lanterns during Diwali as a safety precaution. The ban will be in effect from October 23 to November 21, 2024.
The preventive order highlights that using sky lanterns could be dangerous to property as well as people. Therefore, selling, storing, and flying sky lanterns is strictly forbidden in areas under Mumbai Police jurisdiction.
The police have invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to issue the prohibition. The goal is to make sure of public safety and security. It will also prevent any activities by anti-social elements.
There was a similar concern in 2015. Back then, a fire was reportedly caused by a sky lantern. It damaged a 36-story building under construction in Malad East. This led to a request by the former Mumbai fire chief, P Rahangdale, to ban sky lanterns.
The police has also issued orders prohibiting the use of fireworks near petroleum companies in the city. The order bans setting off fireworks or sending up rockets within 500 meters of bottling plants and several other key locations.
These locations include boundaries and surrounding areas of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. The restricted areas also include the terminal area of Mahul and the Special Oil Refinery area, covering 15 to 50 acres.
Diwali is one of the most important Hindu festivals. This year, it will take place between October 29-November 2, 2024. It is celebrated nationwide with people bursting fireworks, lighting diyas and decorating their homes.
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