Adilabad: A fire that broke out in a TS Beverages Corporation Limited (TSBCL) depot in Utnoor destroyed liqour stocks worth Rs 100 crore on Wednesday. The cause of the fire is suspected to be an electrical short circuit. No casualties were reported in the massive fire.
The manager of the depot Thodasam Prabhu Das said around 97,600 cases including various brands of liquor and beer valued between Rs 90 crore and Rs 100 crore that was stocked in the depot were damaged. “Shankar, a security guard, alerted me when he noticed smoke emanating from the depot warehouse at around 8.30 am. I alerted the Utnoor Fire Station and rushed to the spot,” he said.
The manager the store officer and other staff switched off power and locked the depot on Tuesday night. The fire broke out on Wednesday morning and the flames engulfed the entire depot where large quantities of liquor meant for supplies to 114 outlets in erstwhile Adilabad district was stored. The liquor stock was, however, insured.
Prabhu said fire-fighters from Utnoor, Adilabad, Echoda and Jannaram fire stations rushed to the spot but could bring the fire under control only towards the evening. Locals and policemen also extended their support in controlling the fire. The depot officials opened the shutters of the warehouse to let the smoke out.
The manager, stating that an inquiry would be held into the accident, said the staff had carried out the monthly maintenance of the building and there was no fault in the wiring. As many as 58 employees including hamali workers are employed at the depot which was constructed in Utnoor to supply liquor to shops in Adilabad district in 1985.
MLA visited the depot
Khanapur MLA A Rekha Naik visited the depot and inquired out about the mishap. She brought the incident to the notice of Prohibition and Excise Minister V Srinivas Goud over phone. She instructed the officials concerned to take steps to prevent recurrence of such accidents in future. Utnoor Revenue Divisional Officer, Deputy Commissioner David also visited the depot.
Workers allege negligence
Meanwhile, some workers alleged there was negligence on the part of depot officials in maintenance including supply of power. “They do not engage professional electricians to rectify faults in wiring and boards. They furnish fake bills and swindle money under the guise of repairs and maintenance of the building,” a worker told ‘Telangana Today’, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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