Gujarat: Four premises sealed as fire safety checks intensify after factory blast
Ahmedabad, July 19
Ahmedabad's civic authorities have launched a citywide fire safety enforcement drive, a day after a deadly explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit in the Ramol area killed nine people, with inspectors issuing 30 notices and sealing four premises during the first round of checks.
The crackdown comes as police investigate the blast, which occurred at a unit alleged to have been operating despite its licence having been cancelled.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Fire and Emergency Services Department carried out special inspections across all seven zones of the city on Sunday to verify compliance with fire safety regulations.
Officials inspected 147 premises, including warehouses, godowns and commercial establishments.
The inspections resulted in 30 notices being issued, comprising 23 to warehouses and godowns and seven to other establishments. Four units were also sealed.
Officials said the action would continue from Monday as an intensive enforcement drive.
The South-West Zone accounted for the largest share of violations. All 21 premises inspected in the zone were issued notices.
The establishments included ABC Transport, I. S. Logistics, Yard Shopping Mall, Ola Electric Service Centre, Goodluck Furniture, Reza Furniture Mall, Honest Decor Private Limited, Akshat Shah Furniture, Puthawala Packaging, Salasar Laminate Limited, S. K. Designer, Reny Cosmetic Company, West Point Honda, Malu Surface Coating, Auto Mart, Air Power Service, Rajen Auto, M. M. Enterprise, S. K. Tiles, Aavkar Auto Parts and Tazbani.
In the Central Zone, 44 premises were inspected, and four notices were issued to Jay Hind Stores, Radhe Seasonable Stores, Avinash Traders - Seasonable and Gujarat Papad Bhandar.
The North Zone inspected 15 premises and issued one notice to Heena Traders. The South Zone inspected 34 premises and issued one notice to Maa Ambika Seasonable Store.
The North-West Zone inspected four premises and issued three notices to China Fatakda, Gurukrupa Fatakda and Manav Mandir Fatakda. No notices were issued in the West Zone, where 24 premises were inspected, or in the East Zone, where five inspections were carried out.
According to the department's zone-wise inspection report, no notices were issued to factories or industrial units during the drive.
Of the 30 notices served, 23 related to warehouses and godowns and seven to other establishments.
The four sealed premises belong to Kantibhai Chinilal Shrimali at Survey No. 630 in Vastral; Mohsinkhan Siddiqkhan Pathan at Survey No. 143/1 near Bakshi na Kuva in Ramol; Zeeshanuddin Zahiruddin Saiyed in Narol; and Kamruddin Badruddin Saiyed's King Fire Works at Survey No. 66/3 near the old Ragani Mata Temple in Gyaspur village of Vatva.
The enforcement follows Saturday's explosion at an illegal firecracker manufacturing unit on Ramol-Gatrad Road near Vastral, in which nine people were killed, and several others were injured.
Investigators have alleged that the unit continued to operate despite the cancellation of its licence and arrested three people, including the owner and operator.
The investigation remains ongoing.
— IANS
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