Jagraon residential areas sitting on a powder keg

Jaswant Shetra

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Jagraon, September 26

The residents of different localities in Jagraon continue to be sitting on pile of explosives as many wholesale dealers of firecrackers in the town have stocked huge quantity of crackers in their stores and godowns situated in residential areas.

With the festival of Diwali round the corner, the wholesale dealers of Jagraon have started storing a huge quantity of fireworks in their stores. From last few days, crackers worth crore of rupees have been imported by the local fireworks dealers. Some of these stores where the crackers have been stocked are even located in densely populated areas.

In fact, the main wholesale dealers of Jagraon had already started stocking crackers in their stores from past few days keeping in view the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali ahead.

There are many wholesale dealers of fireworks in the areas such as College Road, Railway Road, Nehru Market, Old Grain Market and Lajpat Rai Road who have stocked huge quantity of firecrackers in their stores.

According to the sources, crackers worth many crore rupees have been imported by the local firework dealers. These crackers have been stored in godowns most of which are located in residential areas.

Generally, the local administration chooses particular designated locations for the sale of crackers and the traders are allowed to sell fireworks from those locations only.

The stocking and sale of crackers in residential areas is strictly banned. There are many stores located in residential localities including the Old City Area which has been densely populated with narrow streets. Even the fire brigade cannot reach some of these places in case of emergency which makes the issue more serious.

By stocking the crackers in residential areas, the firework dealers are putting the lives of local residents under risk.

A feeling of panic and fear prevails among the residents of the areas where the crackers have been stocked. The local residents fear that the fireworks stocked in stores located in the residential areas might lead to a tragedy if these crackers catch fire accidentally.

These residents have demanded from the administration to get the crackers shifted outside the city.

Jagraon SSP Surjit Singh said stocking of fireworks in residential areas is strictly banned and he has already asked the SHOs and other police officials to monitor the stocking of fireworks. “A meeting of authorised fireworks dealers would be convened very soon to instruct them to follow the guidelines issued by the administration. If any trader is found neglecting these guidelines, an appropriate action would be taken against him”, added the SSP.