Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has raised serious concerns regarding festive fire safety after a stray Diwali rocket landed on his balcony and set his sofa ablaze. The acclaimed director shared that a major tragedy was narrowly averted only because his observant pet dogs alerted the family to the unfolding danger in time.

Vivek Agnihotri escapes Diwali fire, slams errant rockets

Taking to X to document the terrifying ordeal, Vivek tagged Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde and responded directly to her recent public appeal for a safe festive season. "Last night, our balcony sofa caught fire after being hit by an errant rocket. Thankfully, our dogs alerted us in time, and the fire-resistant fabric helped prevent a potentially serious accident," he wrote.

While expressing immense relief over his family's fortunate escape, the director questioned the safety of other citizens who might face similar life-threatening situations. He strongly criticised the normalisation of dangerous fireworks during the festivities. "Who doesn’t love celebrating Diwali? But errant rockets are not a cultural pride, they are a fire hazard. Our great culture doesn’t permit us to put innocent lives, homes and property at risk," Vivek stated.

The alarming incident prompted him to demand stricter enforcement of the Bombay High Court's firecracker guidelines. He stressed that basic civic appeals have very little real-world impact without strict on-the-ground implementation. Urging authorities to investigate fire incidents across the city, Vivek argued that true accountability must extend beyond the individuals bursting crackers to the officials tasked with ensuring public safety.

His viral post followed an earlier civic message from Ritu, who had urged Mumbai residents to celebrate responsibly, avoid setting off fireworks on public roads and keep emergency municipal numbers handy. Concluding his powerful message, the filmmaker quoted a poignant verse from the Bhagavad Gita to remind those in power that they must set a responsible example for the general public to follow.

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