Patna firecracker sales are facing intensified scrutiny after the Bihar fire services department issued notices to more than 4,000 establishments across the state for allegedly storing or selling fireworks without mandatory permissions ahead of Diwali. Around 700 to 750 of the notified establishments are in Patna, according to state fire officer and Deputy Inspector General Manoj Kumar Nat.
Firecracker stalls were found operating in several crowded parts of the city, including New Market near Patna Junction, Boring Road Crossing, Mithapur vegetable market, areas around Buddha Murti, Sabzi Bagh, Digha vegetable market, Raja Bazaar, Patna City Chowk, Alamganj and Malsalami. Traders at New Market were advertising discounts of up to 50% to 60% to attract buyers.
Nat said the department had not issued a licence to any establishment in Bihar for storing or selling firecrackers this year. “No establishment has been granted a licence for storing or selling firecrackers anywhere in the state this year. Storing and selling firecrackers without a licence is completely illegal,” he said.
The department has carried out inspections across markets ahead of Diwali and Chhath. A team from the Lodipur fire station inspected New Market on Tuesday and warned traders against selling fireworks without permission. However, stalls continued to operate there on Wednesday, according to the report.
The fire services department said local grocery, gift and stationery shops that set up temporary firecracker stalls during the festive season would also face action if they were found operating without the required permission. The notices cover establishments across Bihar, with Patna accounting for a substantial share of those identified by the department.
For the festive period, Patna has been divided into four zones and eight sub-zones for fire-safety monitoring. The department has identified sensitive locations and plans to deploy 350 fire tenders near crowded areas to support emergency response. It will also station 89 firefighting vehicles, including specialised motorbikes, in narrow lanes, congested markets and densely populated neighbourhoods that may be difficult for large fire engines to access.
Water bowsers are being deployed as an additional measure, particularly in slum areas. The department has appealed to residents to avoid conventional firecrackers and use green crackers, citing the need to reduce fire hazards and air pollution during the festive season. Inspections and enforcement action are expected to continue across markets before and during Diwali and Chhath.
