Mumbai Fire Brigade asks city police to ban flying lanterns during Diwali

The Mumbai Fire Brigade has asked the city police to ban the use of flying lanterns during Diwali celebration in a bid to avert possible threats caused by them. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Fire Brigade Chief P S Rahangdale in a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner recently, has drawn the attention of police department towards accidents caused due to flying lanterns every year.

Rahangdale said in the letter that flying lanterns in large number are



released in air during Diwali and Makar Sankranti festivals, which pose serious threat to aircraft, high rise towers, slums, installations of HPCL and BPCL refineries. Referring Nation Fire Protection Associations's recommendations, Rahangdale said countries like the US, Thailand have also supported the ban on such flying objects. He also asked the police to take action against those found selling and flying such item under the relevant sections of the IPC.