A large fire broke out at a firecracker store in Bogulkunta, Hyderabad, on Sunday night. On Monday, AV Ranganath, the Commissioner of the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRA), visited the scene to inspect the firecracker shop and the surrounding areas in Abids.
During the inspection, the Commissioner assessed the damage to the shop and a nearby tiffin centre, both of which were heavily affected by the fire. He spoke with officials and local residents about what may have caused the fire. Ranganath stressed the importance of safety and advised that firecracker shops should only be set up in open areas to avoid such incidents.
Local authorities revealed that the shop did not have the proper permits to operate. The store had only received temporary approval to sell firecrackers for Deepawali in an open area. However, the owners were selling firecrackers from a building without the necessary permissions. The fire left one woman injured, who was taken to the hospital. It also spread to a nearby hotel, damaging at least ten two-wheelers and a transformer.
In response, the Telangana Fire Department has filed a case against the store owner for putting people’s lives and property at risk. Officials stated that a temporary license had been issued to Paras Corporation to sell firecrackers in an open space, but the owners were illegally conducting business from a building.