Lakshmi Pujan Night in Pune: Residents Post Midnight Crackers, Smog, Busy 112 Lines; One Society Moved Out
Pune residents on X described crackers past midnight, smog and busy 112 lines on Lakshmi Pujan night. One society moved its celebration to a ground instead.
Graphic: Puneri Pages. Photos: VinothChandar (CC BY 2.0), Kashyap Kinshuk (CC BY 2.0), halfrain (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Flickr
Pune, 9th November 2026: For many Punekars, Lakshmi Pujan night on Sunday, 8 November did not end at 10 pm. From late evening until well past 1 am, residents across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad posted on X about crackers bursting after midnight, smoky air, burning eyes and, in one case, 112 lines that seemed jammed.
One housing society took a different route. Its residents moved the cracker celebration out of the compound to a ground nearby, for the sake of toddlers and elderly neighbours.
One society moved its crackers to a ground
At 11:19 pm, Vineeth K (@DealsDhamaka) wished followers a happy Diwali from Pune and explained what his society had done. Residents collectively decided not to burst crackers inside the premises, he wrote, because of the many toddlers and elderly people living there. Instead, they booked a nearby ground and celebrated together.
His two short videos show aerial fireworks bursting against a dark, hazy sky. He did not name the society or its area.
Post: @DealsDhamaka on X
“Crazy smog” in Pimpri-Chinchwad after midnight
At 12:13 am on Monday, @vipulruiwale posted about “crazy smog” in PCMC, with crackers still going off at midnight. He noted that this was happening even though many people were out of Pune for Diwali.
His post includes a screenshot from an air quality app listing several Pimple Saudagar sensors in its “Hazardous” band, and a night photo of buildings seen through a window grill, blurred by haze.
Post: @vipulruiwale on X
Crackers past midnight, and 112 lines busy
Several other residents described the same scene:
- At 10:06 pm, a user posting as @speakup96377 wrote that people in Pune could not step out because of smoke from crackers, and tagged the Chief Minister’s office.
- At around 12:12 am, @abhi_sikarwar20 asked Pune Police to act on loud crackers in Lohegaon, pointing to newborns and small children.
- At 12:21 am, @shubham_gurule wrote that even 112 seemed overwhelmed, with all lines busy, and tagged Pune Police, PCMC and PMC.
- At 12:30 am, @harshaldpune noted crackers were still being burst.
- At 12:51 am, @SohamShah07 wrote that his eyes and nose were burning.
Another user, @twJayknaik, wrote at 1:17 am that in many areas crackers had gone on till about 2 am on earlier nights and started again around 5 am.
Post: @shubham_gurule on X
What the rules say about crackers after 10 pm
Pune Police’s Diwali advisory, which we reported on 1 November, bans noise-making crackers between 10 pm and 6 am. Light-only fireworks like sparklers and anar are not covered by the night ban, but no cracker can be burst on a road or within 10 metres of one. Residents were asked to dial 112 to report violations.
At 12:30 am, @nachiketgadgil shared a news report on this 10 pm rule and tagged Pune Police, saying the deadline was long past. Full details are in our guide to Pune’s Diwali firecracker rules.
Fires across the city through the evening
The fire brigade logged 24 fire calls between 3 pm and 9 pm on Lakshmi Pujan day, according to records reported by ETV Bharat. Sparks set fire to trees, garbage, house galleries, a flat in Kharadi, a warehouse in Phursungi and a shop near City Pride on Satara Road.
Dainik Prabhat put the evening’s total above 30 and reported no loss of life.
Why the AQI numbers people shared look so different
Residents shared very different figures. A screenshot of the IITM station at Hadapsar shared on X showed an AQI of 217, “Poor”, at 1:05 am. App screenshots from private sensors in Pimple Saudagar showed numbers far higher.
The government’s National Air Quality Index tops out at 500. Private apps often use the US scale and their own sensors, so their numbers cannot be compared directly. Official station data is published by CPCB and SAFAR, and our Pune AQI today page tracks it.
If the air bothers you today
- Keep windows shut in the early morning, when smoke settles.
- Postpone morning runs and walks until the air clears.
- Children, older people and anyone with asthma should limit time outdoors.
Health note: This is general information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have breathing trouble.
We will update this story when official air quality data for the night is published.
Frequently asked questions
Is it allowed to burst crackers after 10 pm in Pune?
No. Pune Police’s advisory bans noise-making crackers between 10 pm and 6 am. Light-only fireworks are not covered by the night ban.
How do I complain about crackers after 10 pm in Pune?
Call 112, the emergency number Pune Police asked residents to use for violations. You can also tag Pune Police on X with your location.
How many fires were reported in Pune on Lakshmi Pujan 2026?
Fire brigade records showed 24 calls between 3 pm and 9 pm on 8 November, with reports putting the evening total above 30.
Why does my AQI app show a higher number than the official AQI?
Many apps use the US AQI scale and private sensors. The official Indian AQI uses a different scale that tops out at 500.
