WARANGAL: Locals living near the gutted Telangana State Weaver Cooperative (TSCO) Society godown at Dharmaram village in Geesukonda mandal have raised doubts over the official version that the warehouse had caught fire accidentally.
As per an estimate, ₹35 crore worth material stored in the cooperative society’s godown had been reduced to ashes. Locals living nearby maintain that at the time of mishap, there was no power supply or any signs of fire in the surroundings.
A watchman of the godown had seen flames erupting from the godown. He immediately informed godown in-charge Srinivas who, in turn, conveyed the information to DMO Srinivas. Srinivas informed the local police and officials of fire department, who rushed with two fire engines. As the fire spread, three more fire engines were pressed into operation. The fire was put off after 12 hours of hard work. No casualties have been reported.
Society officials say crores worth dress materials, children’s school uniforms and bedsheets stored in the TSCO godown had got burnt. The government had not distributed this material to beneficiaries during past two years owing to outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic when schools had remained closed.
Locals allege officials had been negligent in taking care of the godown containing crores worth material. They had deployed just one watchman to look after the entire place.
Police have registered a case and are investigating.
