Seven killed including child in Jaipur firecracker warehouse fire; illegal godown was in residential area

Jaipur: Seven people, including a child, were killed and four others critically injured on Tuesday when a massive fire broke out at an illegal firecracker warehouse in Jaipur’s Khoh Nagoriyan area, with survivors left writhing on the road while bystanders watched.

The fire broke out at around 11 AM at a warehouse in the Ayesha Nagar Talai area near ITI College in Khoh Nagoriyan. Of the seven dead, one has been identified as Abdul Wahid, a resident of Ramganj; the remaining six are yet to be identified. Four critically injured workers — Sameer Khan (20), Nasir Khan (20), Bilal (22) and Adib — were admitted to the burn ward at SMS Hospital. Azim Khan (18) also sustained injuries. One victim died after being brought to the hospital; another arrived dead.

Dr. R.K. Jain, Plastic Surgeon at SMS Hospital, said the injuries were severe: Sameer and Nasir had 95 per cent burns each, Bilal 75 per cent, and Adib 65 per cent. Local resident Mohammad Zia ul Haq, who lives around 150 metres from the site, said administration reached the scene roughly 40 minutes after the fire began. Hashim Ansari, another local resident, said he helped rescue three to four people and sustained burns to his own foot in the process. He said an LPG cylinder found inside the premises was removed. Neighbours described sounds resembling a gas cylinder explosion when the fire broke out. One fire brigade vehicle reportedly had to be push-started before it could respond.

Jaipur Police Commissioner Sachin Mittal confirmed the warehouse was being used to store firecrackers, with the actual factory located a short distance away. He said the warehouse was operating illegally in a residential area and that action would be taken against the owner, the landlord and any policemen found responsible. Jaipur Collector Sandesh Nayak said the fire was caused by flammable material stored at the site and that the matter was under investigation. The district administration has sought a report from the area’s tehsildar and patwari, adding that the colony itself is considered entirely unauthorised. Police have sealed the site.

Kishanpole MLA Amin Kagzi, who visited SMS Hospital, accused the police and administration of collusion, questioning how a gunpowder warehouse in a residential colony could have operated without the knowledge of authorities. He also said that one of the victims was a child who had gone to the warehouse to fetch water. Agriculture Minister Kirori Lal Meena expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said he had directed disaster management officials to ensure effective relief and rescue operations and proper medical care for the injured.