Diwali 2024: Commissionerate Police issues advisory for firecracker shops

Ahead of Diwali, the Commissionerate Police has issued an advisory for vendors and traders of firecrackers in Bhubaneswar.

As per the advisory, only green crackers can be sold in accordance with the directive of the Supreme Court. 

The sellers cannot stock more than 300 kg of crackers at their shops. They need to avail empty space in front of the shops.

One cluster will have around 50 shops. There should be at least 3-metre gap between the two cracker shops. 

Each cracker shop should have vacant space up to 50 metre on the front for evacuating people in case of any mishap.

Each shop should have an adequate stock of firefighting equipment, including two fire extinguishers, water and two sacks full of dry sand.

“All the firecracker vendors have to obey the rules of the Fire Service Department and the BMC. In case of any deviation, actions will be taken as per the provision in law,” said Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra.

Meanwhile, ahead of Diwali, the Commissionerate Police raided several illegal firecracker godowns in Bhubaneswar and seized firecrackers worth over Rs 20 lakh.