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320 fire tenders, 2,000 DFS staffers to be on for Diwali

Delhi Fire Services deploys 320 fire tenders and 2,000 personnel ahead of Diwali to respond to emergencies from October 19-21, focusing on high-risk areas.

Updated on: Oct 16, 2025, 22:10:07 IST
By , New Delhi
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The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) has placed more than 320 fire tenders and over 2,000 personnel on alert across the city to respond to fire-related emergencies ahead of Diwali. The deployment will begin on October 19, a day before the festival, and continue till October 21.

Heavy rush in Sadar Bazar in Delhi on Sunday. (ARVIND YADAV/HT PHOTO)
Heavy rush in Sadar Bazar in Delhi on Sunday. (ARVIND YADAV/HT PHOTO)

According to an internal DFS order issued Thursday, the department has identified 58 key locations across the city – including crowded markets, dense residential colonies, and stretches far from existing fire stations – for additional deployment. “All operational staff have been directed to remain on duty. Casual and earned leaves have been restricted on October 19 and 20 to ensure full manpower strength during the peak festive days,” the order signed by deputy chief fire officer AK Malik stated.

The deployment will cover major spots such as Lajpat Nagar Central Market, Tilak Nagar, Bara Tooti Chowk, South Extension, Gandhi Nagar Market, Azad Market, Jaipur Golden Hospital, and Yamuna Vihar. Smaller quick response vehicles (QRVs) have also been stationed in congested areas like Sadar Bazaar, Mehrauli, Badli Industrial Area, Ghitorni, and Burari, where larger tenders may face access issues.

Officials said divisional and assistant divisional officers have been tasked with inspecting all fire units to ensure readiness, including checks on foam branches, suction hoses, rescue tools, and sirens. The DFS workshop will oversee maintenance of batteries, warning lights, and wireless systems.

“The deployment pattern ensures that no part of the city remains uncovered. The focus is on high-risk zones, markets with temporary electrical setups, areas with cracker use, and congested residential pockets,” a senior DFS officer said.

Last year, DFS received 318 fire-related calls on Diwali day, mostly due to diyas, candles, and electrical short circuits, compared to 208 such calls in 2023.

  • Jignasa Sinha
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Jignasa Sinha

    Jignasa Sinha is a Special Correspondent at Hindustan Times in New Delhi. With more than six years of reporting experience, she covers crime and policing in the national capital. Her beats also include Delhi prisons, the Delhi Fire Services and Delhi courts, while she regularly reports on gender, labour and social justice. Over the course of her career, Jignasa has reported on major criminal investigations, international crime syndicates, high-profile cyber fraud cases, law-and-order developments, protests, disasters and public institutions. Her reporting combines breaking news with in-depth, long form, human interest stories that examine the human impact of public policy, policing and the criminal justice system. In addition to reporting for the newspaper, she contributes to the Hindustan Times website and app, and plays an active role in coordinating on-ground coverage of major developments and breaking news across Delhi. Before joining Hindustan Times, Jignasa worked at The Indian Express newspaper in New Delhi, where she spent five years covering crime, Delhi airport, courts and health. She began her journalism career as an intern at an AI magazine in Bengaluru while pursuing her postgraduate diploma in multimedia journalism at the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media.Read More

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