Nagpur, India: Police have registered a case against a flat owner and his brother for illegally storing firecrackers that led to a deadly fire in Mahal’s Jaikamal Complex on Saturday. The blaze claimed the lives of Girish Khatri (37), who owned the flat, and his employee Pratik Dhote, while two others were seriously injured.

The Kotwali Police have booked Girish Khatri and his brother Ashu under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to causing death by negligence and unsafe storage of explosives. Authorities confirmed that the flat was being used to stock firecrackers and electrical materials without the necessary safety precautions or permissions.

The fire, which broke out in the densely populated area around 5:30 pm, spread rapidly due to the flammable items stored inside. One of the injured victims, Gunwant Nagpurkar (45), a welder, sustained 65% burns and is in critical condition at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). Another injured person is receiving treatment for less severe injuries.

According to police, the illegal storage had been ongoing for some time. Local residents said they had raised concerns with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and although notices had been issued earlier, no strict action was taken.

The incident has raised serious concerns about fire safety in Nagpur’s older neighbourhoods, where mixed-use buildings are often used to store hazardous materials. The NMC’s fire department has continued to monitor the building, with fire tenders stationed at the site even a day later.

Post-mortem examinations of the two deceased were completed at GMCH, and their bodies have been handed over to their families. The investigation is ongoing, with police questioning witnesses and evaluating the extent of liability in the case.