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Hans India
22-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Public participation essential to prevent fire mishaps: Fire DG
Tadepalli: Director General Madireddy Pratap of State Disaster Response and Fire Services Department, called for public participation in preventing fire accidents, emphasising that the summer season sees a higher incidence of such events. He urged people to take precautions. During a press conference held on Wednesday at the State headquarters of State Disaster Response and Fire Services here, DG Pratap stated that the risk of extensive damage from unforeseen fire accidents is higher in old cities of major cities within the State. He cited narrow roads and residential buildings located on upper floors of shops as contributing factors. He pointed out that these were clearly the reasons for the high number of fatalities in the recent fire accident near Hyderabad's Charminar. He warned that similar dangers loom in major towns in Andhra Pradesh, such as Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, and Tirupati. Therefore, he explained, by taking precautionary measures, everyone can contribute to preventing accidents. Making certain recommendations for fire prevention, he said that electrical appliances should be used based on the robustness of the wiring in old buildings. It's crucial to ensure that the existing wiring can handle the load of modern electrical appliances. This alone can reduce short-circuit accidents by more than half. He suggested installation of Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) in every room and ensure proper earthing for every building. When installing air conditioners, check the wire capacity. These measures, if implemented at a low cost, can provide peace of mind. Referring to the smoke management, he suggested installation of smoke detectors and exhaust fans in every home as part of smoke management. This is critical because smoke inhalation often leads to life-threatening situations during short circuits or fires. Every building should ideally have a breathing balcony for better ventilation and safety. Madireddy Pratap recounted a recent fire incident in a shopping mall in Srikakulam, where it took fire personnel six hours to enter the premises due to intense smoke from burning clothes. Many people suffered from suffocation. He assured that all arrangements are being inspected when apartments are issued NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to prevent such situations in other areas. He stressed that the regulations enforced by the Fire department are for the public's benefit. Fire Department Director D Murali Mohan, Additional Director T Uday Kumar, Assistant District Fire Officer K Vinay and other staff members also participated.
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Hans India
City residents fume with rage over garbage burning
Hyderabad: The increase in garbage burning and illegal dumping in the city is alarming. Residents are voicing their concerns about open burning in various localities, especially with rising temperatures leading to significant fire hazards. Despite the risks and recent fire incidents, the practice persists. With the rising heat, the threat of major fires looms larger, prompting residents to call on the GHMC's sanitation department to take action. They urge for regular garbage collection instead of allowing it to pile up. Although burning garbage is against the law and carries hefty fines, both citizens and sanitation workers continue to flout these regulations without fear. Residents and activists alleged that instead of picking up the garbage, the sanitation workers are burning it, resulting in immense pollution. 'In recent times, the city has witnessed back to back massive fire accidents. And both residents and GHMC workers with their lackadaisical attitude lit the fire in waste,' said Shivashankar, a resident of Ameerpet. In many incidents, the Fire department was urgently called to extinguish flames. Venkateshwarlu, a Saidabad resident, expressed concern over the irregular collection of waste by Swachh auto tippers, leading to significant garbage accumulation on the streets. With rising complaints about mosquitoes, the overwhelmed sanitation staff resort to burning the trash. Similarly, Shahid Ali from Chaderghat reported that on Thursday evening, a sanitation worker ignited a fire in the garbage beneath the Chaderghat flyover, which quickly escalated. 'We promptly notified the Fire Department to prevent a major disaster, and they arrived swiftly to bring the situation under control,' he added. Despite the Telangana State government's ban on garbage burning implemented in 2017, areas such as Nagole, Uppal, Yousufguda, Balanagar, Amberpet, Kukatpally, Malakpet, Chaderghat, Santosh Nagar, Yakutpura, Kondapur, Miyapur, Manikonda, Gachibowli, and many others across the city continue to witness this harmful practice without any noticeable improvement. Mohammed Ahmed, a social activist, emphasised that in Telangana, burning waste is considered a serious offence that can result in a hefty fine of up to Rs 25,000. Unfortunately, due to the irregular collection of garbage by municipal vehicles, the corporation's own employees have resorted to burning the waste. Additionally, he highlighted the alarming practice of openly burning trees that were recently felled by officials throughout the city. Moreover, on social media platforms, when the netizens raised the issue on X, posting about the burning of garbage, there was no response from them. 'However, on repeated complaints, the concerned GHMC officer responded with a reply that 'the fire has been doused',' one Siddiq posted on X.
