Mumbai, Oct 22 (PTI) Ahead of Diwali, the Mumbai Police on Tuesday banned the use, sale and storage of sky lanterns for a month as a safety and security measure, an official said.

The ban would be in force from October 23 to November 21, said an order issued by a senior police official.

Violators of the order will be penalized under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said.

Flying lanterns allegedly sparked a fire in a 36-storey building under construction in Malad East in January 2015, prompting the then Mumbai fire chief P Rahangdale to ask the police to ban such lanterns. PTI DC VT VT

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