There are reports of a fire breaking out at the Solapur airport in Maharashtra as India observed 9 PM, 9 Minutes campaign asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight the outbreak of coronavirus. According to local media, firecrackers by Covidiots were responsible for the huge mishap. Although, no official statement has been made as yet.
TV9 Marathi shared the video of the accident as the news anchor blamed the firecrackers for the fire. There are no reports of any casualties.
According to news agency PTI, ‘prima facie, firecrackers burst by some people while responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to switch off lights at 9 pm might have sparked the blaze.’ “The fire broke out t 9:30 pm. We sent four fire tenders to the spot and the fire was extinguished within 15 to 20 minutes,” it quoted a fire brigade official as saying.
Journalist Sagar Surawase of News18 Lokmat channel too tweeted implying that firecrackers may have been the reason for the fire.
सोलापूर ब्रेकिंग :
– सोलापूर विमानतळ परिसरात पुन्हा लागली आग.
– दिवे लावण्याच्या वेळेदरम्यान लागली भीषण आग.
– आगीचे कारण अद्याप अस्पष्ट मात्र फटाक्यामुळे आग लागल्याचा स्थानिकांचा आरोप@News18lokmat @meemilind @manojkhandekar @MaheshMhatre @solapurpolice pic.twitter.com/EeE7BTuXjL— sagar surawase (@sagarsurawase) April 5, 2020
Maharashtra Minister Jitendra Awhad confirmed the news as he tweeted, “There is nothing to worry about the fire near solapur airport in solapur. As guardian minister I just spoke to collector solapur and all is under control.”
There is nothing to worry about the fire near solapur airport in solapur
As guardian minister I just spoke to collector solapur and all is under control #StayHomeStaySafe— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) April 5, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked Indians to switch off lights for nine minutes at 9 PM on 5 April and light diyas (earthen lamps) to ward off the darkness caused by coronavirus. However, there were several reports of huge firecrackers in different parts of India. Several users took to Twitter to call out the stupidity of ‘Covidiots’ for polluting the air, which was begging to improve significantly due to the current lockdown.
Covid19 hits the respiratory system. Firecrackers too. Imagine what u just did. Disrespected the healthcare professionals and risked the lives of so many. Will we ever learn?
— Sayema (@_sayema) April 5, 2020
Firecrackers why? The air was barely recovering & now this
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) April 5, 2020
Bhakts go overboard again. In Lutyens Delhi some nutties have firecrackers/sparklers going off. Moral: dear Supreme Ldr don’t try gimmicks, however well intentioned. Your Bhakts take it as celebration time when #corona requires serious handling & war has just begun.
— K. C. Singh (@ambkcsingh) April 5, 2020
Elsewhere, journalist Mahim Pratap Singh shared a video of a huge fire in his neighbourhood as he wrote, “Massive fire in a building in my neighborhood from bursting crackers for #9baje9mintues. Fire brigade just drove in. Hope everyone’s safe.”
Massive fire in a building in my neighborhood from bursting crackers for #9baje9mintues. Fire brigade just drove in. Hope everyone’s safe. pic.twitter.com/NcyDxYdeFW
— Mahim Pratap Singh (@mayhempsingh) April 5, 2020
There are other reports people taking out huge processions during the nine-minute window in defiance of the need to maintain social distancing.