It was a hapless day for the fire brigade at Delhi on Diwali, with hectic activity, on receiving more than 200 calls for emergency. The surge of calls on a single day kept them on their toes. The fire brigade received calls from almost all parts of the city but no major fire was reported except for a blaze reported from a restaurant in south Delhi`s Hauz Khaz. The blaze was reported from a four-storey building, in which Prayag restaurant is located, soon after its owners were done with the Diwali puja at the premises. No one was injured in the incident, as the eatery was closed for customers. Twelve fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was doused.

The fire brigade had deployed fire tenders in markets which do not have fire stations nearby. "Ninety-nine per cent of our personnel were on duty on Diwali day," said an official. It may well be remembered that last Diwali, the Fire department received 211 calls while the number was 267 in 2009, 270 in 2008 and 150 in 2007. Most of them turning to be hoax or as a pre caution.