States » NorthPosted at: Oct 30 2026 6:48PM


AAP leader's firecracker warehouse catches fire in Ludhiana, cousin killed in wall collapse

Chandigarh, Oct 30 (UNI) A 27-year-old man was killed on Friday when a wall collapsed following explosions triggered by a fire at a firecracker storage facility linked to a local Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Punjab's industrial city of Ludhiana, police said.
The deceased, identified as Sahil Sabharwal, was a cousin of AAP leader Goldy Sabharwal, who runs a garment business in the densely populated Field Ganj locality, where the incident occurred.
Police said the fire broke out on the upper floor of a commercial building housing Pulkit Fashion, a garment establishment owned by the AAP leader. Firecrackers had been stored in a room adjoining a kitchen on the building's second floor.
As flames spread through the storage area, a series of explosions rocked the building, triggering panic among residents and traders in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Sahil, who was inside the premises when the fire erupted, reportedly moved towards one side of the room to escape the flames. However, a wall collapsed during the explosions, trapping him beneath the debris.
He died from injuries sustained in the collapse, police said.
Fire engines and police teams rushed to the scene after residents reported explosions and thick smoke rising from the building. Police cordoned off the surrounding area as firefighters began efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjoining properties.
The incident has raised questions about the storage of explosive materials in commercial buildings situated within densely populated residential neighbourhoods.
Several residents alleged that firecrackers had been stored illegally in the building, posing a serious threat to public safety.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire and the storage of the firecrackers. There was no immediate official confirmation that the stock had been kept without the required licence or permission.
Goldy Sabharwal, who was visibly distressed after the incident, said the firecrackers were left over from the previous year's festive season and suggested that an electrical fault had triggered the blaze.
"These were leftover firecrackers from last year. They had been kept here. There was a short circuit," Sabharwal said, according to the account provided.
Police have not independently confirmed a short circuit as the cause of the fire.
Sabharwal, a garment trader who also sells firecrackers during the festive season, operates Pulkit Fashion in the Field Ganj area and is involved in a wheat distribution depot.
He is also a member of an advisory committee associated with Ludhiana's district administration under Punjab's Food and Civil Supplies Department.
Sabharwal joined the AAP on July 20, 2024, after previously being associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to family members, Sahil and his elder brother Gaurav worked at Pulkit Fashion, helping manage the family's garment business.
Sahil's father, who works in the Ghumar Mandi area of Ludhiana, rushed to the scene after learning about the fire.
He said he had hurried to the building after receiving information about the incident, only to discover that his son had been caught in the accident.
The tragedy has brought renewed attention to fire safety arrangements and the regulation of firecracker storage in congested commercial and residential areas, particularly during the festive season when demand for fireworks increases.
Investigators are expected to examine whether the premises had the necessary permissions for storing firecrackers and whether prescribed fire safety precautions were followed.
The exact quantity of firecrackers stored in the building and the extent of structural damage were not immediately established.
Police said the circumstances leading to the fire were under investigation.
UNI NB CDS
Tags: #AAP leader's firecracker warehouse catches fire in Ludhiana# cousin killed in wall collapse
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