BK Singh
FATEHPUR (UP) Every year, as the festive season approaches, India witnesses a familiar yet tragic spectacle — firecracker markets going up in flames.
Sunday’s massive fire at the temporary firecracker market set up on the MG College grounds in Fatehpur was yet another grim reminder of how little has changed despite repeated warnings and previous disasters.
The blaze, which broke out around 12:30 pm, gutted more than 65 stalls and reduced fireworks worth several crores to ashes.
The cause, according to preliminary reports, was a suspected short circuit at one of the stalls.
Within minutes, the flames leaped from one shack to another, each packed with explosives waiting for customers.
In a matter of 15 to 20 minutes, the market was a roaring inferno, triggering deafening explosions that sent people running for their lives.
Thick clouds of smoke hung over the city as traders and shoppers scrambled to safety. Several people sustained minor burns, and dozens of two-wheelers parked nearby were destroyed.
Fatehpur SP Anoop Kumar Singh confirmed that no casualties were reported, but admitted that the priority remained to bring the fire fully under control. “An inquiry is underway to identify the cause, and strict action will follow against anyone found negligent,” he said.
Chief Fire Officer Jaiveer Singh added that the market was engulfed within minutes, leaving little time for intervention.
“Around 65 to 70 shops and over two dozen vehicles have been reduced to rubble. Thankfully, no lives were lost,” he said.
However, vendors alleged that the fire brigade took nearly 20 minutes to reach the site, despite being barely 200 meters away.
“The market had opened only half an hour earlier. Within 15 minutes, everything was gone,” said Satish, a local trader still dazed by the loss.
Another shopkeeper, visibly shaken, said she had invested ₹8 lakh in stock that now lay in ashes.
District Magistrate Ravindra Singh, who arrived with the SP to oversee rescue efforts, assured that a full inquiry would be conducted to determine accountability and assess the losses.
BJP district president Mukhlal Pal called the fire “deeply unfortunate” and demanded explanations for the delayed response.
While the administration has promised compensation and aid to the affected shopkeepers, the tragedy has once again exposed a grim truth — these fires have become an almost annual ritual.
Despite clear safety guidelines, illegal or poorly regulated firecracker markets keep emerging every Diwali season, with scant fire preparedness or adherence to safety norms.
Authorities swing into action only when disaster strikes — with assurances, inquiries, and compensation packages.
But once the festival lights fade, so does the urgency.
Safety audits, stricter licensing, and fire readiness plans are talked about and forgotten — until another market, another city, and another group of shopkeepers are left staring at smoking ruins next year.
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