Deepavali ends with no major accidents in Madurai

 Deepavali this year in Madurai has ended peacefully with no reported major accidents or incidents. 

Only some scarce fire accidents with minor damage to properties were reported across the city.

Madurai District Fire Officer T. Venkataramanan said that anticipating fire accidents on Deepavali was usual and according to that the fire and rescue service personnel strength in the district was kept full and prepared to tackle any untoward incidents.  

“With 300 fire and rescue personnel in 15 fire stations across the district, the teams handled minor fire cases in their respective locations,” he added.  

A wastepaper warehouse at Vilangudi was set on fire as a rocket firework fell into the building through the window, he noted.  

Though no major damage to the building or any casualty was reported, the huge amount of smoke released from the fire created panic among the public.  

Madurai sky turned colourful with the lighting of firecrackers on the eve of Deepavali.
| Photo Credit:
G. MOORTHY

Mr. Venkataramanan, however, stated that they were able to doze off the fire within an hour due to the timely intervention of the fire and rescue personnel.

In another incident, a coconut tree which caught fire due to fireworks at Tallakulam was completely charred, he added.

“The timely intervention of our team helped control the fire from moving on to nearby trees or buildings,” he added.  

Government Rajaji Hospital doctors said the number of burn injuries they received on the day of Deepavali was comparatively lesser than the previous years.  

They added that they received a total of 37 fire injury cases caused by burst of crackers.  

While most of them were minor injuries, a minimal procedure of wound debridement was performed for many of the cases, said the doctors.  

“Of the total, 29 of them were admitted for Inpatient treatment and eight were treated as outpatients,” said S. Saravanan, Resident Medical Officer, GRH.  

He added that though no casualties due to fire accidents were reported on the day, nine major procedures had to be carried out for treating the injured.