CM Naidu orders probe into rising fire incidents in Andhra’s capital region

Amaravati: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a comprehensive probe to ascertain whether the recurring fire incidents are accidental or part of a larger conspiracy.

Suspicion over repeated fire incidents

Expressing concern over the pattern and timing of recent fires, the Chief Minister directed officials to investigate the incidents from all possible angles. He said the sequence of events raises suspicion and stressed the need to uncover the truth behind the occurrences since the formation of the coalition government.

According to an official release, Naidu asked authorities to examine both past and recent incidents in Amaravati to determine if there is any deliberate attempt to disrupt activities in the capital region.

Fire at MEIL stockyard raises concerns

A major fire broke out late Monday night at the stockyard of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL) near Rayapudi, further intensifying concerns over the recent spate of incidents.

Officials said the blaze erupted at a yard located near the under-construction HoD Towers, under the jurisdiction of Tulluru Police Station. Large quantities of plastic (PLB) pipes stored at the site were gutted, with at least 22 lots reportedly destroyed.

The incident is among a series of similar fires reported in the capital region in recent days.

High-level review meeting

The Chief Minister held a review meeting at the Secretariat with Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta, Guntur Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal, and Intelligence Chief Mahesh Kumar Laddha.

The discussion focused on the fire incident that occurred on Monday night at Rayapudi, where pipes belonging to a construction firm were gutted near the HOD Towers construction site.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister on the sequence of events, including the time of the incident and when the fire department received the alert.

Forensic analysis ordered

Naidu sought clarity on how the fire spread rapidly at the site and directed officials to conduct a detailed forensic investigation to identify the exact cause.

He emphasised that determining the origin and nature of such incidents is critical, especially given the scale of ongoing infrastructure development in the capital.

Security concerns amid rapid development

Highlighting that construction activities are progressing at a fast pace in Amaravati, the Chief Minister noted that materials worth crores of rupees are being stored across multiple locations.

He warned that such incidents could disrupt the development momentum and create unnecessary hurdles at a crucial stage.

Tightened security measures

To prevent further incidents, Naidu ordered enhanced security across the capital region. He instructed officials to:

Increase patrolling, especially in construction zones

Ensure installation of CCTV cameras at all material storage yards

Mandate deployment of private security personnel

Use drone surveillance to monitor sensitive areas

He also stressed the need for construction firms to adopt comprehensive security protocols to safeguard their assets.

Strict action against miscreants

The Chief Minister called for close monitoring of suspicious movements in the region and directed authorities to question individuals found behaving unusually.

Issuing a stern warning, Naidu said that if any conspiracy or deliberate attempt to create unrest is uncovered, those responsible must face stringent action without exception.