Punjab Newsline | Ludhiana
A major fire broke out at a firecracker warehouse belonging to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Goldy Sabharwal in Ludhiana on Friday, triggering multiple explosions and leaving one person dead. The deceased, identified as Sahil Sabbarwal (27), was the nephew of the AAP leader.
According to the police, the fire broke out on the second floor of the building, where a room adjoining a kitchen was being used to store firecrackers.
Following the outbreak of the fire, Sahil entered the warehouse and reportedly stood in a corner. However, amid the explosions, a wall suddenly collapsed, trapping him under the debris. He died after being buried under the rubble.
As soon as the incident came to light, police cordoned off the entire area and initiated an investigation. The authorities are probing the circumstances that led to the fire and the subsequent explosions.
Meanwhile, local residents alleged that firecrackers had been illegally stored in a residential area, raising concerns over public safety and the unauthorised storage of explosive materials.
AAP leader Goldy Sabharwal broke down while speaking about the tragedy. He said that firecrackers left over from last year's stock had been stored at the premises. He also suspected that a short circuit might have triggered the fire.
Police said the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be established. An investigation is underway to determine how the fire started and whether safety regulations governing the storage of firecrackers were violated.
