HYDRAA fire safety crackdown: Looking Good, Royal Oak, Bantia furniture shop among 6 sealed in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: In the wake of recent fire incidents, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) continued its fire safety inspections for the second consecutive day on Friday, sealing six furniture shops across the city for serious violations.

Joint enforcement drive

The inspections were carried out jointly by officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), HYDRAA, Fire Services Department and the Electricity Department.

Action was initiated against commercial establishments operating in blatant violation of fire safety norms.

Six furniture showrooms sealed

At Gachibowli, officials sealed the Looking Good Furniture showroom after confirming that the cellar was packed with hazardous materials.

The building was found to be unauthorised and lacked mandatory fire clearances. Cellar ramps were blocked and converted into storage areas, prompting immediate action.

Similar violations were identified at Anu Furniture showroom near Kompally Crossroads. In Kukatpally and Attapur, furniture outlets along the PV Narasimha Rao Expressway operated by Royal Oak were sealed for stocking goods dangerously in cellars.

Additionally, the Bantia Furniture showroom at Uppal–Nagole and the Anu Furniture showroom at Nacharam were sealed and barricaded.

Boards were erected declaring the premises as ‘Fire Unsafe Zones.’

Cellars misused as godowns

Officials expressed serious concern over the misuse of building cellars as storage godowns.

During inspections, several shops were found storing highly inflammable materials such as chemical containers, paint cans, batteries, mattresses and large quantities of furniture stock in basements, significantly increasing fire risk.

Authorities also detected multiple violations, including:

- Absence of valid building permits.

- Lack of Fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

- Non-installation of automatic water sprinklers and smoke detectors.

- Fire extinguishers are either missing or inaccessible.

Given the potential danger to life and property, officials sealed six shops in different parts of the city.

Stern warning to shop owners

HYDRAA officials reiterated that commercial buildings must not be converted into godowns.

They instructed shop owners to maintain warehouses at separate locations and restrict showroom premises strictly to display and sale activities.

Authorities warned that inspections will continue and stringent action will be taken against violators to prevent fire accidents and ensure public safety.