Fire tenders to be deployed at 20 locations across Hyderabad

Hyderabad: As a precautionary measure during the Diwali celebrations, state fire department officials stated that they would depute fire tenders at 20 locations across the city to ensure a faster response time in the event of a mishap.

According to the officials, all fire personnel will be on high alert throughout the festival. The municipal and revenue authorities have designated specific grounds and localities for the cracker dealers to set up shop for business, according to Hyderabad's regional fire officer, V. Pappaiah. “We are expecting a heavy rush weekend and have chosen about 20 strategic locations to locate fire engines on standby,” he said.

According to data, the Fire Control Room received 32 distress calls received across Telangana on November 4, 2021, including 10 in the GHMC area, all of which linked to fireworks, particularly rockets. According to officials, only one of the 10 incidents—a serious one—caused property damage estimated to be between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh.

When celebrating Diwali, each person must exercise caution because fireworks-related injuries or accidents can also affect onlookers, an official said.

The majority of eye injuries caused by fireworks might result in permanent blindness due to chronic visual loss.

“Keep a safe distance from burning crackers, use safety goggles, and avoid wearing contact lenses while bursting crackers,” fire officials advised.