Tue Oct 21 08:06:18 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, aiming for a concise and informative tone:
Chennai Sees Drop in Fire-Related Incidents on Deepavali Despite Crackdown on Violations
Chennai, India – October 21, 2025 – Deepavali celebrations in Chennai were marked by a significant decrease in fire-related incidents this year, despite numerous violations of firecracker regulations. The Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) reported only 43 fire calls across the state on Deepavali day, a sharp decline from 150 calls the previous year. Within Chennai city limits, only 15 fire calls were linked to cracker bursting, compared to 48 in 2024.
“The reduction is mainly due to the rainfall,” said G. Sathiyanarayan, Joint Director of TNFRS. He also credited the department’s awareness campaigns in schools and colleges for contributing to greater public understanding of the dangers associated with firecrackers.
Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai City Police registered 319 cases for violating firecracker regulations, including bursting crackers outside the permitted hours of 6-7 a.m. and 7-8 p.m., as mandated by the Tamil Nadu Government in line with Supreme Court directives. These cases were filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the City Police Act, with Pulianthope and Washermenpet areas reporting the highest number of violations. The police also prohibited the manufacture, sale, and use of crackers producing sound levels above 125 decibels.
First Piper 