Police said repeated explosions made the firefighters’ task difficult
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: At least two people were charred to death and 12 others injured after a large quantity of firecrackers stored in a trader’s house in the densely populated Marwadi Galli area of Hingoli city caught fire on Monday evening, triggering a series of explosions that engulfed neighbouring houses and hampered rescue operations. An official said the blaze started around 7.30 pm after the stockpile of firecrackers inside the house caught fire. Preliminary probe revealed that the firecrackers were stored illegally in a house ahead of the Diwali festival . Two deaths have so far been confirmed.
Appropriate legal action will be initiated against the guilty after the rescue operation,” Gupta told TOI . Officials said they were yet to identify all the deceased and injured. A senior police officer said the large quantity of stored firecrackers posed a major challenge for rescue and firefighting teams. Officials said the exact cause of the fire remained under investigation.
“Rescue operation is underway. One of them was a man working for the trader. The resulting explosions rapidly intensified the blaze, which spread to at least two adjoining houses, causing extensive damage. Multiple fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot as emergency teams battled the flames. During the operation, one fire brigade vehicle caught fire, adding to the rescuers’ difficulties. Repeated explosions prevented firefighters from approaching the affected structures, delaying efforts to bring the blaze under control. The incident triggered panic in the narrow lanes of Marwadi Galli, with thick plumes of smoke and continuous explosions sending residents fleeing the area. Authorities evacuated people living in the immediate vicinity as firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading further in the crowded neighbourhood. The extent of damage to the affected houses and other nearby property is yet to be assessed. The incident raised questions about how such a large quantity of firecrackers was stored in a residential locality.