As a safety measure, the administration in Odisha's Ganjam district has restricted sale of fire crackers in crowded market and residential areas here and asked licensed traders to sell them in the designated cracker market on city outskirts.
The administration has also asked the traders to take sufficient fire safety measures to tackle the situation in case of any eventuality. The crackers market has also been declared a smoke-free zone.
"These measures have been taken to prevent any accidents due to firecrackers in crowded areas," said a senior officer. The district administration will take stringent action against those who sell firecrackers without licenses," he said.
Around 50 cracker sellers have set up temporary stalls at the designated market after they got licenses from the administration to sell fire crackers for Diwali. It's one of the biggest markets in the district, from where crackers are supplied across the district and to neighbouring districts.
Fire officials on Tuesday conducted a mock drill at the market to check preparedness of traders to handle fire accidents. Sub-collector (Berhampur) Nikhil Pawan Kalyan visited the place and inspected each stall.
"We have asked the traders to stock sand-packed bags, water-filled buckets and fire extinguishers at each stall to deal with fire outbreaks," said district fire officer Satyapriya Behera.
While most of the traders have taken the safety measures, those who have not have assured the administration they will do so, he said.
A major fire accident had taken place in the market in 2010, in which one woman was charred to death while seven were injured.
Behera said they plan to station an advance water tender vehicle of the fire services department near Bana market well before Diwali, along with six fire personnel. The festival of lights will be held on October 11. Earlier, fire tenders were deployed in the area just before two days of the Diwali.
"We have sought permission from the Collector for deployment of fire personnel and the water tender vehicle for six days this year as the number of stalls has increased," said the fire officer.
