Gujarat witnessed a sharp rise in emergency incidents involving fires, public clashes, assaults and road accidents during the Diwali festivities. Official data released by the 112 and 108 emergency services revealed a 565.45% increase in fire incidents compared to normal days, with 366 cases reported across the state. Surat and Ahmedabad recorded the highest numbers. Meanwhile, 108 ambulance services attended to 62 cases of burn injuries during the festival.
Surat tops Gujarat in fire-related emergencies
Of the 366 fire incidents registered through the 112 emergency service, Surat city reported the highest number at 82. Ahmedabad city followed with 56 cases, while Rajkot recorded 44 incidents.
Surat rural reported 37 fire incidents, followed by Vadodara city with 22 and Jamnagar with 14. Gandhinagar and Kutch East recorded 12 cases each, while Ahmedabad rural reported 11 incidents.
62 burn injury cases reported; Ahmedabad leads with 13
The 108 ambulance service received 62 emergency calls involving burn injuries caused by firecrackers and other reasons during Diwali. Ahmedabad district recorded the highest number, with 13 people requiring medical assistance.
Surat reported 12 cases, while Kutch and Rajkot recorded five each. Gandhinagar and Vadodara reported four cases each. Anand, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Narmada, Tapi and Valsad recorded two cases each.
112 helpline records 56.54% rise in emergency calls
The 112 emergency helpline received an average of 3,610 calls on normal days. During Diwali, the number increased to 5,651, marking a rise of 56.54%.
Public fights increased to 1,651 cases from the usual 967, registering a 62.67% rise. Assault-related complaints climbed by 78.93%, from 617 on normal days to 1,104 during the festival.
Calls related to noise pollution also increased significantly, reaching 363 compared to the usual 119, a rise of 205.04%. Domestic violence complaints rose by 77.19%, from 57 to 101 cases.
108 ambulance service reports 87.49% jump in vehicle accidents
The 108 ambulance service handled 5,934 medical emergency calls on Diwali, 13.12% higher than the 5,246 calls received on normal days.
Vehicle accidents witnessed the sharpest increase, with 1,212 cases reported against the usual 646, marking a jump of 87.49%. Non-vehicle injury cases also increased by 75.17%.
Fire incidents reported in Savarkundla, Godhra and Chhota Udepur
Apart from the statewide rise in emergency calls, separate fire incidents were reported in Savarkundla in Amreli district, Godhra in Panchmahal district and Chhota Udepur on Diwali night.
In Savarkundla, a fire reportedly broke out at a weighing-scale manufacturing factory opposite the new bus stand on Mahuva Road after firecrackers were burst nearby. Two fire brigade vehicles were deployed, and personnel took nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control. The factory reportedly suffered losses worth lakhs of rupees.
In another incident, a fire broke out late at night on the third floor of a godown in Putha, along the Godhra-Dahod Road. Fire personnel reached the spot promptly and managed to extinguish the flames, preventing a major loss of life and property.
A separate fire was also reported in the Public Works Department (PWD) compound in the fort area of Chhota Udepur. Firefighters brought the blaze under control before it could spread further, averting a potentially serious incident.