Three separate fires tore through businesses in Andhra Pradesh during Diwali celebrations, and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu did not wait for a briefing note — he personally reviewed each incident on Monday, November 9, 2026, questioning fire department officials and issuing precautionary directives.

Three fires, three districts, one festive night

The worst of the incidents struck Rajam in Vizianagaram district, where errant Diwali firecrackers landed on an automobile showroom and triggered a blaze that gutted the premises. Fire department senior officials briefed the Chief Minister that personnel reached the site immediately and contained the flames — but not before the showroom suffered heavy property losses.

Across the state in Gannavaram, Krishna district, sparks from fireworks drifted onto a furniture shop and set it alight. A third fire broke out in Tiruvuru in the same district, this time caused by a short circuit that burned down another shop. No casualty figures have been confirmed by the government.

CM's review and what officials told him

Chandrababu Naidu expressed regret over the property damage caused by all three incidents. Senior fire officers confirmed to the Chief Minister that teams responded swiftly in each case, limiting the spread of the fires. After reviewing the events, the CM issued instructions asking officials to take adequate precautions ahead of the remaining festive season.

The review reflects a pattern of hands-on administrative oversight that the Chief Minister's Office has signalled through its public communications — particularly around public-safety incidents during high-risk periods like Diwali, when both firecracker use and electrical loads surge simultaneously across households and commercial establishments.

A seasonal hazard that demands year-round readiness

Fire accidents linked to firecrackers and electrical faults are a recurring challenge for state governments every October–November. The combination of dense commercial activity, unregulated fireworks near markets, and overloaded electrical circuits creates conditions that fire departments across India brace for annually. Andhra Pradesh's fire services are now on heightened alert as the festive calendar continues.

The Chief Minister's direct intervention — rather than a routine departmental review — sends a clear signal to district administrations: compliance on fire safety is not paperwork to file after the fact. It is a live operational responsibility.