LUCKNOW, Oct. 15 -- Firecracker storage and sale points in Lucknow will face joint inspections by police and fire department teams ahead of the festive season, including Diwali. Licenced traders have been directed to keep 200-litre water drums, adequate quantities of sand and 5-kg-capacity dry chemical powder (DCP) fire extinguishers on their premises. The directions were issued at a coordination meeting convened by joint commissioner of police (law and order) Babloo Kumar on Wednesday, October 14, with permanent fireworks sale and manufacturing license holders, to review safety arrangements ahead of the festive season. "Assistant commissioners of police, station house officers, and fire officers will jointly inspect storage and sale premises in their respective jurisdictions. The teams will verify whether fireworks are being stored and sold in licensed, safe premises, examine stock and sales records, and check compliance with prescribed safety standards," said the JCP. The instructions also require traders to keep their storage and sale premises at a safe distance from schools, colleges and residential areas, and ensure that no inflammable material capable of triggering an accident is kept inside. Copies of licenses must be prominently displayed for inspection. The police have also asked license holders to inform the nearest police station about any loss, theft, or storage-related issue involving fireworks. Employees working at the premises must be familiarised with firefighting equipment and receive periodic training to handle emergencies. At the meeting-attended by Lucknow Fireworks Dealers Welfare Association president Mahesh Gupta, license holders, zonal police officers and chief fire officer Ankush Mittal-the administration urged traders to cooperate with inspection teams and strictly follow safety directions. Licenced traders have also been asked to promptly alert their nearest police station about any illegal fireworks storage, sale, or manufacturing activity in their areas, in a bid to prevent accidents during the festive rush....