Anakapalli Police Launch Drive Against Illegal Firecracker Units

In the wake of the recent firecracker factory accident in Kakinada district, the Anakapalli district police have launched a special drive to curb illegal manufacturing and storage of fireworks.

Acting on directions from Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, the police have begun preliminary inspections of firecracker manufacturing and storage units across the district. Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha has instructed officials to conduct inspections in all subdivisions.

Raids are being carried out on both licensed and unauthorised units under the supervision of DSPs of Anakapalli, Narsipatnam and Parawada, in coordination with station house officers and officials from the Fire Services and Revenue departments. During the inspections, officials are verifying the validity of manufacturing and storage licences as per the Explosives Rules and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) regulations.

The teams are also ensuring that explosives are not stored beyond permitted limits and that the mixing, filling, packing and drying sections are located at prescribed distances in accordance with safety norms. Spark-proof systems and earthing facilities are being checked to prevent electrical short circuits.

Officials are examining other safety aspects such as the presence of fire extinguishers, availability of emergency exits, and enforcement of a strict ban on smoking. They are also verifying whether workers have received adequate training, the type of material worn during work, and whether any child labour is involved.

Mr. Sinha has directed officials to initiate immediate legal action wherever fireworks are found to be manufactured or stored illegally. He said the inspections are being carried out as a preventive measure to avert any untoward incidents and appealed to the public to inform the police about any illegal storage of explosives.