Hyderabad: Fire erupted at a plastic godown in Seetharambagh on Sunday morning. As of late night, it was still not under control. The plastics godown of Amar Agarwal, the owner of Raj Plastics in Begum Bazaar market, was operating in a seven-storied building at Seetharambagh for the past four months. It is located adjacent to Indian Public School.
On Sunday at around 9.45am the godown caught fire. The fire started on the ground-floor and spread to all floors within two hours. Hyderabad District Fire Officer (DFO) M. Srinivas Reddy told DC that when they reached the spot at around 10.45 am, firemen were unable to start operations due to the massive flames and narrow streets. “We broke the shutters of the godown’s ground-floor and started operations at 11 am,” he said.
The DFO said that as all the floors of the go-down were full with plastic products the fire spread rapidly. “We prevented neighbouring houses from catching fire. It may take more time to control it. Nearly, 40 fire fighters are fighting the fire. We have entered the upper floors by cutting through the wall from Indian Public School,” he said.
Fire officials used six fire tenders from Asif Nagar, Langar Houz, Gowliguda, Secunderabad, Sanathnagar and Moghalpura fire stations. Goshamahal ACP K. Ram Bhupal Rao and Mangalhat Inspector R. Srinivas said they would register a case against the godown owner. All inspectors and staff from Goshamahal division rushed to the spot in the morning.
Locals panicked as a thick smoke spread over surrounding localities.
G. Laxmikanth, a resident opposite the plastics godown, said that locals had protested against the godown as it was close to houses and a school. “We filed complaints with the police and GHMC.
They visited the godown. We don’t know what happened,” he said. Another resident Dhanpath Rai Verma said that locals had been opposing the godown. DFO Srinivas Reddy said the fire department had not approved the godown and it was illegal. Police said godown owner Amar Agarwal had been hospitalised and the loss is Rs 1 crore.
