Ahead of Diwali, DRF begins firecracker safety awareness campaign in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: It’s Diwali festive season now! Everyone is busy buying firecrackers to celebrate the festival of light. Even though it is a cherished time of celebration and togetherness, you need to observe certain safety measures to ensure a safe and joyful festival.

-Make sure to buy fireworks only from authorized vendors
-Store the fireworks safely away from children and flammable items.
-Supervise children when they light a firecracker
-Ensure children use long candles or sparklers to ligh a firecracker
-Choose open areas for lighting crackers

Meanwhile, the Disaster Response Force (DRF) teams are actively educating firecracker shop owners and customers on safe handling practices and emergency responses in the city.

As part of its awareness programme, the DRF teams are visiting all the firecracker vendors and traders who have got temporary licences for firecrackers shops in the city for Diwali and explaining to them how to avoid a mishap.

Safe handling tips: The vendors and traders are being made aware of the safe handling of firecrackers such as their proper storage and protective measures while dealing with firecrackers.

Using fire extinguishers: DRF teams are teaching the shopkeepers how to effectively put out fire during emergencies by showing them practical demonstrations.

Emergency escape plans: Traders were also made aware of the requirement of escape routes and response time in case of fire.

Notably, a massive fire erupted in a wholesale unit of a firecracker store in Boggulkunta at Abids on Sunday night. Paras Fireworks completely gutted in the fire incident. It is not clear what caused the fire, however, no casualties were reported.