Light Up Safely: Fireproofing Your Diwali with Smart Wiring Choices

Diwali is the festival of lights – but across cities in India, it’s also a time when fire incidents surge. In Delhi alone, the Fire Services recorded 318 fire related calls on Diwali night 2024 – the highest in 13 years. Compared to previous years, calls rose by over 53%. In Maharashtra, MSEDCL has already issued warnings about electrical hazards arising from decoration, overloading, and cracked wires. In Tamil Nadu in 2024, 150 fire accidents were reported during Deepavali celebrations – resulting in one death and over 544 injuries. These statistics point to a harsh truth: Our celebrations often conceal hidden, preventable dangers.

The Invisible Neglect Behind Fire

When we think of fire safety, we imagine extinguishers, alarms and smoke detectors. But the real danger often hides behind the walls, under the ceilings and inside switchboards – in the very wiring that silently powers our celebrations. Every year during Diwali, we add more load to our home’s electrical system like decorative lights, extra fans, series lights, air fryers, music systems, outdoor displays – all connected to sockets that were never designed to handle this overload.

Let’s pause for a moment and picture this,

• You connect 20 decorative lights into a single extension board using cheap adaptors.
• Your refrigerator and washing machine share the same socket through a two-pin plug.
• Your inverter backup is on, but the earthing wire has corroded.
• That switchboard near the balcony? It’s been painted over during renovation - and even the MCB can’t trip properly because the paint has jammed it.
• You call a local electrician for a “temporary” extra socket - a quick jugaad – with a thin wire connection dangling behind the curtain.

All these seem harmless, until a wire overheats, insulation melts and sparks turn into a flame.

The Technical Triggers Behind Festive Fires

Electrical fires are rarely caused by one big mistake – they start with small, invisible errors that add up. Here’s what typically goes wrong:

• Overloading circuits: Plugging too many lights or appliances into one socket causes the wires to heat beyond safe limits.
• Loose wiring: A partially tightened terminal can cause arcing – tiny sparks that can ignite nearby material.
• Underrated extension cords: Many low-cost cords use thin copper strands unable to carry required current safely.
• Faulty or painted MCBs: A jammed miniature circuit breaker can fail to trip in time, leaving the circuit unprotected.
• Use of substandard or counterfeit products: Decorative lights and wires without ISI or CE marks may have poor insulation or mismatched conductor size.
• Temporary connections during renovation or decoration: Improperly joined wires wrapped with tape, not connectors, can create hotspots.
• Aging insulation: Old PVC wires become brittle over time – losing flexibility and cracking under even mild heat.
• Poor earthing or missing RCD: Without proper grounding, current leakage cannot be detected early, leading to shocks or potential ignition.

Each of these issues may start as a faint smell, a flicker or a tripped MCB – but combined, they can result in catastrophic fires.

Connecting the Dots: Why It All Leads Back to Wires

Behind every festive sparkle and appliance hum, there lies a single truth: electricity is only as safe as the wire that carries it. When insulation fails or the wire isn’t rated for the load, the system begins to deteriorate quietly and by the time we notice, the damage is done.

That’s why using high-quality wires like FIREX LS0H-EBXL is not just a choice, it’s a safety investment. These cables are designed to resist overheating, maintain their structure even under short-circuit conditions and emit minimal smoke or toxic fumes if exposed to fire.

They are the silent guardians inside your walls, keeping your celebrations alive, bright and safe.

The Government’s Push Toward Safer Homes

The growing awareness around electrical safety has now reached the highest levels of governance. From Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandating IS-marked cables, to CEA (Central Electricity Authority) specifying the use of LS0H (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) cables in residential and commercial spaces – the message is clear: India is moving toward a safer, more reliable electrical ecosystem.

Even National Building Code (NBC) and state fire authorities have started emphasizing the use of halogen-free wires and cables in high-rise buildings, hospitals and public spaces – because the focus is no longer on just preventing fires, but on minimizing the damage if a fire does occur.

Beyond Wires – Building Safer Celebrations

While high-quality cables form the backbone of safety, every household can take a few simple steps this Diwali to stay protected:

1. Check your load before you connect: Avoid plugging too many decorative lights or appliances into a single socket. Spread them across multiple points.
2. Inspect your wires: Replace damaged or cracked wires and plugs before using them. Never run wires under carpets or rugs.
3. Keep water and electricity apart: Decorations and lights on balconies or terraces should always be away from water sources.
4. Switch off before stepping out: Turn off all electrical decorations and appliances before sleeping or leaving home.
5. Use branded and ISI-marked products: From wires and MCBs to switches and decorative lights – always choose certified and tested products.

These small precautions can make a big difference in preventing electrical fires and protecting your family.

This Diwali, Light Up Safely

Diwali is the festival of lights, joy and togetherness. It’s the time to illuminate our homes and hearts – not our fears. Let’s celebrate responsibly, choosing safety over shortcuts and quality over compromise. Because a single spark of negligence can destroy in seconds what took years to build. Let the only glow this Diwali be that of light, laughter and love.

This festive season let’s make a promise:

Protect what powers you. Trust what connects you. Choose RR Kabel where every connection protects your world.