Firemen want ban on flying lanterns

People flying or selling ‘flying lanterns’, which are popularly known as ‘Chinese lanterns’, could be in serious trouble this Diwali as the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) has sought a ban on them, fearing that they could be used for terror activities. Taking note of this, the Mumbai police has started the process of imposing the ban on such lanterns in the city.

In a letter written to the Mumbai police commissioner, MFB chief Prabhat Rahangdale has demanded that along with banning flying lanterns, people found selling, flying and stocking the same should also be fined, with criminal cases filed against them.

“During the Diwali period, a lot of flying lanterns are released in the sky. If these get stuck or fall on high-rises, slums, big installations like HPCL or BPCL, forests like Sanjay Gandhi National Park etc, it can cause a huge disaster. These lanterns can also be used for terror activities,” Mr Rahangdale said in his letter.

He added that countries like America and Thailand have already imposed such a ban, which has also been supported by the National Fire Protection Association.

When asked, DCP Ashok Dudhe, spokesman, Mumbai Police, said, “We have received the letter from the Mumbai Fire Brigade and a ban will accordingly be imposed on flying lanterns.” The Mumbai police will issue orders to prohibit the use of these lanterns under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, which calls for six months of imprisonment or a fine of `1,000 or both.

On January 1 last year, a flying lantern released on the occasion of Makar Sankranti proved disastrous after eight floors of an under-construction high-rise building, Omkar Altamount, were gutted down due to a major fire caused by it.