Permission not sought for firecracker show on Hyderabad’s Hussain Sagar lake that led to a blaze injuring six

Fire accident in a boat and jetty on the Hussain Sagar lake in Hyderabad on Sunday (January 26, 2025).
| Photo Credit: By Arrangement

The organisers of the firecracker show which was part of the ‘Bharatha Matha Maha Harathi’ event on Hussain Sagar, Hyderabad, did not seek a permission for the firework display. A massive fire engulfed two boats on Sunday (January 26, 2025) night during the event and six people sustained injuries in the accident and one of them is stated to be critical with 100% superficial burns.

According to the Hyderabad District Fire Officer T. Venkanna, the organisers did not inform the fire or police departments about the firecracker show. “Fire safety teams and equipment are kept on standby during such events. In this case, no fire safety arrangement were made as there was no information. It took a long time for the teams to reach the boats,” the official explained.

The event is organised by Bharatha Matha Foundation every year as part of Republic Day celebrations in the city for the past seven years. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy were among the officials who were attending the programme at People’s Plaza on the banks of the lake.

After the cultural programme, firecrackers were arranged to be set off on the jetty and a boat. “The foundation was established in the year 2018. Since then, the foundation has organised ‘Bharatha Matha Maha Harathi’ programme every year on the eve of Republic day under the guidance of Shri Kishan Reddy garu,” states the information on the organisation’s website.

Firefighting in water

Tension gripped a large number of people who were enjoying the evening on the Republic Day on the Necklace Road, a popular hangout spot in the city. In the visuals that filled social media platforms, the firefighting boat was seen racing towards the burning boat and jetty, which drifted further away from the shore due to wind.

A two-pronged approach was used to fight the intensifying fire. According to the State Disaster Response Force and fire officials on ground, while the firefighting operation took only 30 minutes to an hour, most of the time went in reaching the affected areas which were about 20-30 feet from the lakeshore with a 12-feet fencing between the land and the water.

“Our team used an aluminum ladder to cross the fence, and hose pipes and branches to douse the fire. About 80% of the fire was doused with this approach,” Mr. Venkanna explained.

Meanwhile, a portable fire-fighting pump from the Hyderabad Secretariat fire station, mounted on a Telangana Tourism boat, was used during the second leg of the firefighting operation. “The boat was already in water which allowed the rescue teams to reach extremely close to the affected boats and douse the flames inside completely,” he explained.

Also called the vertical turbine pump, the equipment is for submersion in water and drawing water from the water body, underground wells or reservoirs. Two fire boats and pumps from Gowliguda and Moula Ali fire stations also reached the spot, however were not needed for the operation.

Officials said that there were about 10-15 individuals on the boat and jetty. While firecrackers were arranged on the jetty, most of the organisers, including representatives of the Bharatha Matha Foundation as well staffers of Telangana Tourism Department were on a motor boat behind it.

Ganapati, 22, who sustained 100% superficial burn injuries, had the key role in lighting the firecrackers, officials said. According to Musheerabad Station Fire Officer Narsimha, Ganapati was on the jetty on which the firecrackers were arranged. He is currently undergoing treatment in Yashoda Hospital.

Others, including 20-year-old Sai Chand K, 47-year-old Chintala Krishna and Praneet, who sustained minor burn injuries, were shifted to Gandhi Hospital.

As of preliminary investigation, a firecracker, possibly a rocket, from the jetty boat went into the boat behind it triggering uncontrolled fire.