Death toll in Bengaluru firecracker shop fire rises to 14

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the deaths. 

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಆನೇಕಲ್ ಸಮೀಪ ಅತ್ತಿಬೆಲೆಯ ಪಟಾಕಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹ ಮಳಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭವಿಸಿದ ಅಗ್ನಿ ದುರಂತದಲ್ಲಿ 12 ಮಂದಿ ಮೃತಪಟ್ಟ ಸುದ್ದಿ ತಿಳಿದು ಅತೀವ ನೋವಾಯಿತು.
ದುರ್ಘಟನೆ ನಡೆದ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ನಾಳೆ ಭೇಟಿನೀಡಿ, ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ನಡೆಸಲಿದ್ದೇನೆ.
ಮೃತ ಕಾರ್ಮಿಕರ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ ನನ್ನ ಸಂತಾಪಗಳು.
– ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah pic.twitter.com/5aCXpbCU8w

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) October 7, 2023

ಆನೇಕಲ್‌ ಬಳಿಯ ಅತ್ತಿಬೆಲೆ ಸಮೀಪ ಇಂದು ಸಂಭವಿಸಿರುವ ಪಟಾಕಿ ದುರಂತದಲ್ಲಿ 12 ಮಂದಿ ಜೀವಂತ ದಹನವಾಗಿರುವ ಸುದ್ದಿ ದುಃಖಕರ. ವಿಷಯ ತಿಳಿದ ಕೂಡಲೇ ದುರಂತ ನಡೆದ ಸ್ಥಳಕ್ಕೆ ಭೇಟಿ ನೀಡಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ನಡೆಸಿದೆ. ದುರಂತದ ಕಾರಣ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಸೂಕ್ತ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸುವಂತೆ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಸೂಚಿಸಿದೆ. ಮೃತರ ಆತ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಶಾಂತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ.… pic.twitter.com/YHjwxzV2CZ

— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) October 7, 2023

Most of those who died were employed at the firecracker godown-cum-shop, police said, adding efforts were being taken to ascertain the identity of the deceased. 

The incident occurred around 3.30 pm while unloading cartons containing firecrackers from a transport vehicle. 

“Some employees were working inside the shop when the fire broke out,” Superintendent of Police (Bengaluru Rural) Mallikarjun Baladandi said. 

More than nine fire tenders were pressed into service to bring the fire under control, he added. 

The shop owner was stockpiling these crackers in view of Navaratri and Deepavali.  The blaze gutted several vehicles parked nearby. 

The place where the tragedy occurred was just a few kilometres from the Tamil Nadu border. 

Also read: 4 killed, 3 injured in firecracker shop inferno

Victims from Tamil Nadu

According to the police, most of the victims hailed from Ammalpettai in Dharmapuri district, Vaniyambadi in Tirupattur and Kallakurichi districts in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. 

The godown owner was also injured, the police said. 

A case has been registered against the owner of the godown owner, and one person was arrested. 

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin offered his condolences to the families of those who died in the mishap and announced a cash relief of ₹3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. 

In a statement, he said he has deputed his cabinet colleagues R Sakkarapani and Ma Subramanian to oversee the treatment requirements of the injured and coordinate steps for their transfer to Tamil Nadu, as may be the requirement. 

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister announced a compensation of ₹ 1 lakh each to the grievously injured and ₹50,000 to those with simple injuries.

Also read: Firecracker unit blast kills 3 in Salem

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