Hyderabad: Firecracker Shops Ignore Safety Rules Despite Recent Fire Incident
Even after a major fire broke out at a firecracker store in Abids on Sunday, many firecracker vendors in Hyderabad are still not following fire safety rules. This incident caused serious damage and raised concerns about public safety. However, only a few sellers have taken safety precautions during the Diwali festival.
Firecracker shops are popping up all over the city, which is worrying for people living nearby and those passing by. A report by The Hans India found that many of these shops are ignoring important safety measures, continuing their business in different areas of the city.
This year, around 7,000 applications were submitted to the Fire department for licenses to sell firecrackers. Out of these, more than 6,000 were approved.
Although the civic body, police, and fire departments have issued safety guidelines for firecracker vendors, there seems to be a lack of coordination between these departments. This has raised concerns about what might happen if another fire breaks out.
According to the Fire department, vendors must meet certain safety requirements to get a license. These include having a tin roof, fire extinguishers, and sand buckets to handle emergencies. Additionally, there should be a 15-metre gap between shops, and they should not face each other. However, many temporary stalls in the city are not following these rules.
When officials visited firecracker stalls in areas like Begum Bazar, General Bazar, Balanagar, Monda Market, Hussainialam, Saidabad, and Dilsukhnagar, they found several violations. For example, one stall in Begum Bazar did not have any fire safety equipment, which is dangerous, especially since it is located on the roadside.
B Sanjay Kumar, a wholesaler in Osmangunj, mentioned that his shop has been around for over 150 years. “For the last several years, we have followed safety rules, including having fire extinguishers, water barrels, and sand buckets,” said Sanjay.
On Monday, officers from the GHMC’s Enforcement department inspected the Begum Bazar area to check fire safety measures. A field officer said they reviewed permissions and safety precautions. “Many small traders and hawkers are selling firecrackers illegally, even on the roadside, without proper permission from GHMC, Police, or the Fire department. We have inspected these sellers, and a report will be submitted. The local police will remove them,” the officer added.
In addition, GHMC’s Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams are raising awareness about fire safety. They are educating both shop owners and customers on how to handle firecrackers safely and what to do during emergencies. They are also teaching proper storage methods and demonstrating how to use fire extinguishers effectively. Key strategies for planning escape routes and staying calm during a fire are also being explained.
