Delhi L-G TS Sandhu reviews fire service preparedness ahead of festive season
Synopsis
With emergency calls hitting a six-year high of 36,877, Delhi L-G TS Sandhu has ordered a sweeping overhaul of the Delhi Fire Service — from zone-wise response targets and GIS-enabled coordination to new fire stations and mass public awareness drives. The timing, just ahead of the Diwali-Chhath festive peak, adds urgency to a city where nearly 99% of fires occur in uncertified premises.
Key Takeaways
Sandhu reviewed Delhi Fire Service (DFS) operational preparedness on 16 October 2026 alongside GNCTD Home Minister Ashish Sood .
Emergency calls in Delhi have reached a six-year high of 36,877 , prompting a comprehensive safety overhaul.
Nearly 99 per cent of fires in Delhi have reportedly occurred in uncertified premises .
Key directives include zone-wise response time targets, strict safety audits, and a new GIS-enabled Command and Control Centre .
Land transfers with the DDA for new fire stations and fast-track recruitment were also directed.
L-G Sandhu also inspected Old Delhi civic infrastructure, directing improvements in solid waste management and cleanliness.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on Friday, 16 October 2026, conducted a comprehensive review of the operational preparedness of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), with the exercise aimed at strengthening the city's fire-fighting ecosystem ahead of the annual festival season — a period historically marked by a sharp rise in fire incidents across the capital.
Key Directions from the Review
Sharing details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), L-G Sandhu noted that the review was held alongside GNCTD Home Minister Ashish Sood. He disclosed that emergency calls have reached a six-year high of 36,877, prompting a directive for comprehensive strengthening of fire safety across Delhi.
Among the priorities set were faster zone-wise response targets, particularly for densely populated and vulnerable neighbourhoods, and strict safety audits through intensified inspections of residential, market, and industrial areas. Notably, nearly 99 per cent of fires in the city have reportedly occurred in uncertified premises — a figure that underscores the scale of the compliance gap the administration is now trying to address.
Infrastructure and Institutional Upgrades Directed
L-G Sandhu also assured backing for modern infrastructure additions within the DFS. Specific directives included expediting land transfers with the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for new fire stations, fast-tracking recruitment drives, and establishing a GIS-enabled Command and Control Centre to improve real-time emergency coordination across the city.
The Lieutenant Governor also called for intensified public awareness campaigns to make every citizen an active partner in fire prevention — a demand-side intervention to complement the supply-side upgrades being planned for the DFS.
Old Delhi Inspection: Civic and Heritage Standards
Earlier on the same day, L-G Sandhu also undertook a civic inspection of the Old Delhi Zone under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The inspection covered the RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Centre near the Red Fort, the pedestrianised stretch of Chandni Chowk, Vijay Ghat Pigeon Feeding Point, and the Integrated Transit Station on Bela Road.
Posting on X, Sandhu directed officials to strengthen solid waste management, ensure effective source segregation, and maintain rigorous cleanliness standards. 'As Delhi's historic, cultural and commercial heart, Old Delhi deserves world-class civic standards,' he wrote, adding that preserving the area's heritage must go hand in hand with cleaner streets and better civic amenities.
Why This Matters Now
The festive season — spanning Dussehra, Diwali, and Chhath Puja — has historically been associated with elevated fire risk in Delhi, driven by firecrackers, open-air cooking, and crowded markets with inadequate safety infrastructure. This comes amid growing concern over the DFS's capacity to respond to the rising call load, with the six-year-high emergency tally adding urgency to the review's findings.
The administration's push for a GIS-enabled command centre and zone-wise response benchmarks signals a shift toward data-driven emergency management — a model several other major Indian cities have already adopted. Whether these directives translate into on-ground change before the festive peak will be closely watched.
Point of View
But directives issued from a review room have a mixed track record of translating into reformed ground reality in Delhi's densely packed older zones. The real accountability test will come in the weeks after Diwali, when the fire logs for the festive window are tallied against this year's stated preparedness.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Delhi L-G TS Sandhu review the Delhi Fire Service?
L-G T.S. Sandhu reviewed the Delhi Fire Service on 16 October 2026 ahead of the festive season, when fire incidents historically spike. The trigger was emergency calls hitting a six-year high of 36,877, indicating growing pressure on the city's fire-fighting infrastructure.
What are the key directions issued after the Delhi fire service review?
Key directions include setting zone-wise targets to reduce response times, intensifying safety audits of residential, market, and industrial areas, fast-tracking recruitment, and establishing a GIS-enabled Command and Control Centre. Land transfers with the DDA for new fire stations were also directed.
What is the significance of the 99% uncertified premises figure?
According to the review, nearly 99 per cent of fires in Delhi occur in premises that lack fire safety certification. This highlights a large-scale compliance gap and explains why the L-G has directed stricter inspections across all categories of buildings.
Who attended the Delhi Fire Service preparedness review?
The review was attended by Delhi L-G T.S. Sandhu and GNCTD Home Minister Ashish Sood, among other officials of the Delhi Fire Service.
What did L-G Sandhu inspect in Old Delhi on the same day?
L-G Sandhu inspected civic and sanitation infrastructure in Old Delhi, covering the RRR Centre near the Red Fort, the pedestrianised Chandni Chowk stretch, Vijay Ghat Pigeon Feeding Point, and the Integrated Transit Station on Bela Road, directing improvements in solid waste management and cleanliness standards.
