Hyderabad sees 10-fold increase in electrical fires in last 6 years

HYDERABAD: The recent spate of rains in the city has not only led to inundation but also a rise in the number of fire accidents caused by electrical faults and short circuits. But it's not just the rains, such cases have seen a 10-fold jump in the last six years.

In the latest case, a hoarding started emitting sparks, threatening lives, after it developed an electrical snag due to the rains last Tuesday.

“Usually, during the monsoon, there are chances of water seeping into the electrical wiring. In many cases, the onus is on owners who use poor quality wires during construction,“ said V Papaiah, regional fire officer, Hyderabad.

“What's worse,“ said C

Lakshmi Prasad

, additional director of the fire safety department, “is that some people use exposed wires that do not have insulation. This is dangerous and the practice needs to be checked. People have to be more cautious about the quality of electrical fittings.“

But the most disturbing trend is that many such fire mishaps are not being reported as owners fear they would be held responsible and prosecuted for the fire, he said.

Reiterating the need for better safety measures, an official of the fire department said: “People need to stop tightening their purse strings when getting the wiring done in their homes and commercial buildings. Instead of viewing it as an unnecessary expense, they should make it a habit to buy quality material. This will go a long way in preventing such fire mishaps from taking place.“

But several commercial establishments too compromise on fire safety. In February this year, a fire was reported in

Forum Sujana Mall

in

Kukatpally

and a furniture shop in

Champapet

, both of which were caused by electrical short circuit.

Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.