Scenes of chaos were caught on camera as an ‘illegal’ firecracker shop went up in flames with several people inside.
Footage filmed from a building across the road shows a huge crowd of people tussling at the entrance to the store.
Several bangs are heard in quick succession and grey smoke begins seeping out of the storefront.
READ MORE: Horror moment cars detach from fairground ride leaving six ‘critically injured’
The frequency and intensity of the bangs and the smoke increase before bright orange flashes and sparks start to take over.
People can be seen ducking for cover outside the shop as the area quickly begins to resemble a war zone.
The thick smoke pouring from the entrance begins glowing intensely as the building is transformed into an inferno.
The horror unfolded in a densely populated residential area of Hyderabad, India, on Sunday (27 Oct) night.
Local media say four water tankers were dispatched to the scene after the emergency services were called.
When the firefighters arrived, fireworks were still being set off by the blaze, making it difficult for them to get close and bring it under control.
The authorities are investigating the cause following a complaint from the owner of the business next door.
Restaurateur G. Vijay Reddy says two of his staff, aged 62 and 44, sustained burns during the inferno.
Preliminary assessments suggest the blaze was caused by a short circuit or a mishandling of the firecrackers.
The owner of the wholesale shop, 33-year-old Guruvindar Singh, has been placed under investigation.
He is accused of lacking safety equipment and not having permission to run the business, as reported by Need To Know.
Reddy told local media: “We heard a loud noise and rushed out to investigate.
“Within moments, thick smoke and flames engulfed the area as the crackers began to explode.
“Our restaurant was directly affected, with the furniture and cooking equipment being completely destroyed.
“The used cracker cartons strewn outside our entrance hindered the escape of customers and staff.”
Remarkably, no casualties were reported.
READ MORE: Betrayed lover gets revenge on ex by scrawling ‘cheat’ on BMW
