HYDERABAD: A person is in critical condition, while two others sustained burns following a massive blaze aboard two boats designated for fireworks during a ‘Bharath Matha Maha Harathi‘ event on the occasion of Republic Day at People’s Plaza, Necklace Road, on Sunday.
Earlier, the event was witnessed by many including governor Jishnu Dev Varma and Union minister G Kishan Reddy. As part of the event’s conclusion, pyrotechnics were arranged in the middle of Hussainsagar in two Telangana Tourism boats for Sunday night display.
According to doctors, 22-year-old Ganapathi from East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh sustained 100% burns and is currently on ventilator support in serious condition. The other two victims, Chintala Krishna, 47, from Amberpet and Sai Chand, 21, from Huzurabad were said to be out of danger.
Though there was speculation that 15 people were in the two boats, neither police nor the fire services confirmed it. Officials said the fire broke out when sparks ignited the crackers aboard the boats.
“A fire broke out in the boat after one of the crackers burst in it when the team was preparing for the display, leaving one of the team members severely injured, while other workers managed to escape unhurt,” DCP (Central Zone) Akshansh Yadav said.
A police officer, supervising the rescue operation at the site, said the organisers obtained permission for the event but there was no sanction for bursting crackers.
“Electrifying atmosphere here at the 8th Edition of Bharath Matha Maha Harathi in Hyderabad. An evening enriched with cultural festivities and a heartfelt tribute to Bharath Matha,” wrote Union minister and BJP Telangana chief G Kishan Reddy on X, who was present at the event.
