A case has been registered against the owner of Balaji Residency in Hyderabad after a massive fire broke out, resulting in the death of nine people. The building owner had obtained permission for only two floors, but he illegally constructed four floors with 16 flats. The building lacked fire safety systems and violated setback regulations. A team has been formed to investigate the condition of the building.
Officials have revealed that the building owner had regularized the building under a scheme in 2008, despite its illegal construction. The east side of the building had no setbacks, and the remaining sides were less than one meter. On Tuesday, a team visited the affected building to assess its condition. The fire department discovered that hazardous materials were stored on the stilt floor meant for parking, and they were also dumped in the building’s setbacks.
The quick spread of fire was due to the storage of these materials, which led to smoke engulfing the staircase. Surprisingly, no complaints were made about the storage of hazardous materials on the premises. The building owner has been charged under several sections of the law for storing these chemicals.
The owner, Ramesh Jaiswal, is currently hospitalized due to health issues. He complained of heart problems after learning about the fire. Once he is discharged, legal action will be taken against him, according to the police. Jaiswal has been in the business of supplying chemicals and was using the ground floor of the building for storage.
Residents have alleged that despite lodging complaints, authorities failed to inspect illegal chemical warehouses and take necessary action. The city has also faced numerous tragic fire incidents due to inadequate fire safety arrangements and lack of maintenance of firefighting equipment. Many buildings violate rules by hoarding materials, resulting in a higher risk of fires.
