Celebrations Turn Hazardous: Seven Burnt in Firecracker Incident During BJP Victory Festivities
Bavdhan, 17th January 2026: What began as jubilant celebrations following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) emphatic victory in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections took an unfortunate turn on Friday evening, when a fire broke out during post-result festivities in Bavdhan, leaving seven people with burn injuries.
The incident was reported around 5 pm at Patil Nagar in Bavdhan, shortly after BJP candidate Kiran Dagade Patil was officially declared the winner from Ward 10A. Police said panic erupted among party supporters when a spark from a firecracker ignited gulal (coloured powder) being sprayed as part of the celebrations, triggering a sudden blaze.
According to the police, several BJP workers had gathered outside the party office to celebrate Dagade Patil’s victory. Some activists were spraying gulal from atop a tempo parked near the office, while firecrackers were being burst in close proximity. A spark from one of the crackers reportedly landed on the tempo’s roof, where gulal powder had accumulated, causing the fire to flare up rapidly.
Seven people sustained burn injuries in the incident and were rushed to a private hospital in Bavdhan. Police said the victims suffered burns ranging from 4 percent to 17 percent on their faces, hands and legs, and their condition is stable.
The Bavdhan Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and to assess whether negligence was involved during the celebrations.
