The fire service department in a release on Thursday said two people have died and the number of distress calls rose 32 per cent this year as compared to 2017. The agency received around 300 calls, including five for animal rescue, on Diwali, the release said. The major reasons included accidents caused by firecrackers and cylinder blasts. The department received 271 calls on Wednesday and 74 more till 8 am Thursday. One-hundred-and-twenty-five calls were made between 8 pm and midnight, it said. "Accidents caused by crackers were less this year. In 2017, the number was 204. However, in 2012 and 2013, the department received less than 200 calls," said a senior fire official. The data showed that maximum calls were received from west and northwest districts of New Delhi. While out of the total calls, 89 were of fire at garbage and dump yards. "Incidents of fire and short circuit were also reported from factories and houses. There was a call about fire at a factory in the Bawana. No casualties were reported there. Eighteen fire engines had to be rushed to the site," said the officer. The causalities were reported from shanties at Filmistan Cinema in Karol Bagh. The fire broke out at around 2:18 am Thursday in which a woman along with her sister was gutted in sleep. The fire broke from an LPG cylinder, the official said. "Two children, identified as Ganesh (10) and Swati (8), were charred to death while their mother Suman (28) and brother Dhruv (5) suffered severe burns. The two are being treated at RML Hospital," the officer added. Besides the 59 permanent fire stations in the national capital, the department had set up temporary stations across the city. Out of the 271 calls, 256 were fire-related, 6 special jobs, 5 of animal rescue and others were rescued. SHORT STORIES

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