Source: The Hindu

According to data from the State Fire and Emergency Services Department, careless smoking has become the leading cause of fires in Telangana in 2024. According to the data, careless smoking and abandoned cigarette butts caused 3,865 fire occurrences overall, significantly more than any other reason.

With 2,151 occurrences, electrical short circuits came in second, while 845 cases fell into the catch-all category known as others. The reason of another 670 fire calls was classified as “not known,” indicating either a lack of on-site information or inadequate investigation.

Arson, gas and coal furnaces, and mechanical heat or sparks were other major contributors. 113 fires were caused by spontaneous combustion, serving as a reminder that even dormant things might catch fire under the right circumstances if they are handled incorrectly.

With 2,045 emergency calls, residential properties were the most frequently reported. Electric installations, industries and industrial units, stores and warehouses, and retail establishments were among the other hotspots.

Model Question:

“Frequent fire incidents in Telangana, both in forest areas and urban settings, highlight systemic vulnerabilities in disaster preparedness and environmental governance.” Critically analyze the causes, consequences, and suggest a multi-pronged strategy to address the fire menace in the state.

Model Answer:

Frequent fire incidents in Telangana — ranging from forest fires in districts like Komaram Bheem and Adilabad to urban blazes in Hyderabad’s commercial areas — have raised serious concerns about environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, human safety, and gaps in disaster management.

Causes:

  1. Forest Fires:
  1. Urban Fires:

Consequences:

  1. Environmental Impact:
  1. Economic Loss: Loss of property, livelihood disruptions, and costs of firefighting operations.
  2. Public Health and Safety: Respiratory ailments due to smoke, fatalities and injuries, especially in urban fire cases.
  3. Administrative Strain: Strained disaster response mechanisms and delayed rehabilitation.

Way Forward – Multi-Pronged Strategy:

  1. Prevention and Early Warning:
  1. Legal and Policy Measures:
  1. Community Participation:
  1. Infrastructure and Technology:
  1. Capacity Building:

The Telangana fire incidents underscore the intersection of environmental vulnerability and urban governance challenges. Addressing these requires not only reactive firefighting but proactive, systemic reforms involving technology, community, and administration working in tandem.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *