TL;DR: In 2024 alone, India recorded nearly 6,000 fire accidents, resulting in 5,888 deaths and 330 injuries. On average, 16 people died every day in fire-related incidents in 2024. Residential buildings remained the most common location for fire accidents, while cooking gas cylinder and stove bursts, along with electrical short circuits, continued to account for a large share of incidents. State-level data also reveals considerable variation, with some smaller states recording higher fire death rates than large states.

Context

The tragic fire at a hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar in June 2026 exposed a familiar pattern. Authorities found that the building was allegedly operating beyond its approved capacity and lacked mandatory fire safety clearances. With only a single entry and exit point, many guests found themselves trapped when the fire broke out.

Such incidents often trigger short-term discussions around fire safety. However, the problem extends far beyond a handful of high-profile disasters. Across India, fires occur in homes, shops, factories, vehicles, and public buildings. Many are caused by electrical faults, cooking accidents, faulty wiring, or inadequate safety measures. While some incidents make national headlines, thousands of others remain largely unnoticed.

In 2024, fire accidents claimed 5,888 lives across the country. That translates to roughly 16 deaths every day, highlighting that fire safety remains a significant public safety concern.

Who Compiles This Data?
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, publishes annual statistics on fire accidents through its Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) reports.

Where can I download Clean & Structured Data on Fire Accidents in India?

Clean, structured, and ready-to-use datasets covering fire accidents, deaths, injuries, causes, places of occurrence, and state-wise trends can be downloaded from Dataful.

Key Insights

Fire Accidents Have Declined Sharply, But Thousands Continue to Die Every Year

The number of fire accidents in India fell from 18,450 in 2015 to 5,971 in 2024, a decline of nearly 68%. The number of deaths also dropped from 17,700 to 5,888 during the same period, while injuries fell from 1,193 to 330.

The decline in the number of accidents and deaths by almost two-thirds within a decade in a rapidly urbanising country is a surprise. Whether it is due to improvements in fire safety and response mechanisms or underreporting is not clearly known.

Between 2023 and 2024 alone, both fire accidents and deaths declined by around 15%. Despite this improvement, the toll remains significant. In 2024:

• 5,971 fire accidents were recorded

• 5,888 people died

• 330 people were injured

On average, 16 people died in fire accidents every day in 2024.

Residential Buildings Continue to Account for Most Fire Accidents

In 2024, there were 3,585 fire incidents in residential buildings, 277 in commercial buildings, and 149 in factories.

Compared to 2015, fires declined across all categories, with residential building fires falling from 7,493 to 3,585. The dominance of residential fires highlights an often-overlooked reality. While hotel fires, factory explosions, and shopping complex fires attract public attention, many fatal fires occur inside homes.

Cooking accidents, faulty electrical wiring, overloaded power connections, and the absence of fire safety equipment can quickly turn everyday spaces into dangerous environments.

Cooking Gas and Electrical Faults Remain Major Causes of Fire Accident Deaths

Nearly two out of every five fire accidental deaths in 2024 were linked to either cooking gas cylinder and stove bursts or electrical short circuits, indicating that everyday household activities remain a major source of fire risk.

In 2024, out of 5,888 fire accidental deaths:

• Cooking gas cylinder/stove bursts: 23.6%

• Electrical short circuits: 17.2%

• Fireworks: 2.3%

• Other causes: 57.0%

Cooking-related fire deaths increased from 19.2% in 2015 to 23.6% in 2024. Electrical short circuits also remained a major contributor.

The share of deaths classified under “Other Causes” remained above 50% throughout the decade. This makes it difficult to identify specific risk factors and suggests that a large number of incidents are either grouped together or lack detailed cause classification.

Fire Death Rates Vary Widely Across States

State-wise data presents two very different pictures depending on whether one looks at absolute deaths or death rates.

In terms of total deaths in 2024, the highest numbers were recorded in:

• Maharashtra (639)

• Tamil Nadu (537)

• Uttar Pradesh (489)

• Madhya Pradesh (452)

• Odisha (442)

However, the highest death rates were recorded in:

• Mizoram (1.28 deaths per lakh population)

• Chhattisgarh (1.14)

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands (0.99)

• Odisha (0.95)

• Himachal Pradesh (0.94)

Odisha stands out because it appears among both the states with the highest number of deaths and the highest death rates, indicating that fire-related mortality remains a significant concern in the state.

Why Does It Matter? 

Fire accidents remain one of India’s most preventable causes of accidental death.

The data highlights several concerns:

• Most fires occur in residential buildings

• Cooking-related fires remain common

• Electrical short circuits continue to pose risks

• Fire mortality varies significantly across states

• More than half of accidents fall under “Other Causes”

Although reported fire accidents have declined over the past decade, thousands of lives are still lost every year, underlining the need for stronger fire safety compliance, inspections, and emergency preparedness.

Key Numbers (2024)

• Total Fire Accidents: 5,971

• Total Deaths: 5,888

• Total Injuries: 330

• Most Common Place of Occurrence: Residential Buildings (3,585 cases)

• Major Identifiable Cause: Cooking Gas Cylinder/Stove Burst (23.6% deaths)

• State with Most Deaths: Maharashtra (639 deaths)

• Highest Death Rate: Mizoram (1.28 deaths per lakh population)