Chandigarh, November 6:- The Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has appealed to residents to celebrate Diwali with joy, responsibility and caution, keeping safety, cleanliness and environmental concerns in mind. Under its ‘Swachh Diwali, Shubh Diwali 2026’ initiative, being implemented as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, the civic body has issued a comprehensive fire safety advisory to prevent accidents and ensure a safe and incident-free festival.

MC Commissioner Sh. Amit Kumar, IAS, appealed to citizens to make safety and cleanliness an integral part of their Diwali celebrations. He said, "Diwali is a festival of lights, happiness and togetherness. Let us celebrate it responsibly by following fire safety precautions, keeping our surroundings clean and ensuring that children enjoy the festivities under proper adult supervision. A little caution and collective responsibility can go a long way in preventing accidents and making Diwali safe and memorable for everyone. I also urge residents to avoid littering and dispose of used firecrackers responsibly to uphold the spirit of ‘Swachh Diwali, Shubh Diwali’."

As part of the advisory, residents have been advised to keep buckets of water and sand readily available while bursting crackers, maintain a safe distance from fireworks and ensure that children handle firecrackers only under adult supervision. Citizens should wear cotton clothes, use safety goggles and never attempt to relight crackers that fail to ignite.

The civic body has further cautioned residents against bursting crackers near buildings, vehicles, shops, electrical installations or inflammable materials. Fireworks should never be used indoors or inside closed containers. After celebrations, used firecrackers and their remnants should be thoroughly immersed in water or covered with dry sand before safe disposal.

Special fire safety instructions have also been issued to firecracker shop owners. They have been directed to maintain prescribed safety distances, ensure proper electrical wiring, prominently display ‘No Smoking’ signboards and keep adequate quantities of water, sand and fire extinguishers readily available. Shopkeepers must ensure that only authorised quantities of firecrackers are stored and sold, in accordance with applicable safety norms.

The Commissioner has appealed to citizens, traders, shopkeepers and market associations to extend their cooperation in maintaining fire safety, cleanliness and public order during the festive celebrations.

In case of any fire emergency, citizens should immediately dial 112 or contact the nearest Fire Station for prompt assistance.