Sheer negligence : Air cooler unit didn't have fire safety norms in place

HYDERABAD: The AV One air-cooler making unit, in which six people were charred to death after a fire broke out, had several violations according to Cyberabad police. The police said that the establishment was illegal and the place was very small to run as a manufacturing unit and also as a storage place. The unit was erected in plot no 279, near pillar no 160 of PVNR Expressway. It was built in 100 X 30 sq yards place

The land was owned by Pramod Kumar and he erected a temporary construction for the business. The unit was run for the last two years illegally and the GHMC officials were unaware of the unit.

The owner did not even bother to maintain minimum



fire safety equipment to respond during emergency. The unit had only entrance and did not have windows for ventilation. The only way for entry and exit was the main shutter, which was also one of the reasons why the workers could not escape from death. "About 200 damaged cooler motors, three e-rickshaws were also present in the unit," said the Cyberabad police. The police said that the workers Irfan, Mujahid, Shahadu and Samad were working and living in the same shed. "A domestic gas cylinder was also found which exploded during the fire. It is learnt that the workers used to cook in the same place," said police who have booked a case against him for causing death due to negligence.