Attibele fireworks mishap: CM Siddu orders CID probe

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A day after a fire killed 14 persons in a firework warehouse in Anekal taluk’s Attibele town, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday announced that the case had been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

He also confirmed that Rs 5 lakh compensation would be handed over to the families of the deceased, who were mostly from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu.

He added that the State government would foot the hospital bill for the injured. Tamil Nadu Health Subramanian also visited the accident site and the injured on the day and announced ex-gratia of Rs 3 lakh each to the affected families.

“The CID has been entrusted with the investigation of the Attibele fire accident. Moreover, as announced earlier, the families of the victims will receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh each as announced earlier and the medical expenses of the injured persons would be borne by the government,” Siddaramaiah said.

He made the comments to mediapersons after visiting the site of the accident. He added that the fireworks came in a truck from Tamil Nadu around 3 pm in the afternoon on Saturday and that it wasn’t clear as to what set them off.

The time of the accident is estimated to anywhere between 3:15 and 3:30 pm.

Three arrested

The CM vowed that owners of the warehouse would face the music, adding that First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered against three persons who were also arrested.

“Ramuswamy Reddy, Naveen and Anil Reddy have been arrested. FIRs have been registered under sections 285, 286, 337, 338, 437 and 304,” Siddaramaiah said.

He also decried the lack of safety measures in the warehouse, pointing out that the facility had been quite narrow, adding that there had been no measures to extinguish any fires either.

Siddaramaiah also told the Deputy Commissioner (DC) that he should have visited the place and inspected it. However, he conceded that the outlet had the permission to sell 1,000 kilograms of fireworks but expressed doubt as to whether they had the permission to store said crackers.

Rs 5 lakh compensation for families of deceased

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday announced that the case had been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

He also confirmed that Rs 5 lakh compensation would be handed over to the families of the deceased, who were mostly from Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu.

He also decried the lack of safety measures in the warehouse, adding that there was no equipment to extinguish a fire either. Siddaramaiah also felt the Deputy Commissioner (DC) should have visited the place and inspected it.

Both the CM and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar expressed the need for utmost care to be taken with respect to crackers, adding that surveys of the fireworks warehouses would be conducted.

Surveys, policies to curb cracker accidents

Both the CM and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar expressed the need for utmost care to be taken with respect to crackers in the backdrop of Diwali, adding that surveys of the fireworks warehouse would be conducted.

Shivakumar added that a policy would be formulated to prevent cracker-related accidents. “The police commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been given notices, ordering them to carry out safety surveys of firework warehouses. These surveys will be conducted across the state,” Shivakumar said.

On being asked whether it was true that 30,000 kilograms of fireworks had been stored in the warehouse, he couldn’t confirm the quantity of the crackers.