Mohali, Oct. 10 -- The Mohali district administration on Thursday conducted a draw of lots to grant 44 temporary licences for the sale of firecrackers in the city. The draw of lots conducted at the District Administrative Complex in Sector 76, under the supervision of deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate Komal Mittal. According to Mittal, the administration received a total of 1,260 applications for temporary firecracker sale licences. From this pool, 44 licences were allotted through the draw. In Mohali and Banur, 18 licences were granted and eight licences were issued from the combined regions of Kharar, Kurali, and Naya Gaon. Dera Bassi received six licences, while in the areas of Lalru and Zirakpur, all applicants were granted licences without the need for a draw. Mittal said that firecracker sales will be strictly limited to 13 designated locations across the district. No sales will be permitted outside of these approved sites. She added that firecracker shops will be allowed to operate only between 10 am and 7.30 pm on the permitted days, which are October 18, 19, 20, and November 5, the day of Gurpurab. On Diwali, which falls on October 20, the bursting of firecrackers will be allowed between 8 pm and 10 pm. On Gurpurab, which will be observed on November 5, the allowed timings are from 4 am to 5 am and from 9 pm to 10 pm....