Thick smoke, panic inside locked rooms and people struggling to get out - what started as a midnight police raid on illegal hookah cafes in Gokulpeth, quickly turned into an emergency rescue operation. Police and Fire Brigade teams had to forcibly break open entrances at two cafes after several persons were allegedly found trapped inside enclosed smoke-filled premises. The raiding police parties found 84 people, including customers, staff and cafe operators, inside three smoke-filled establishments. The action was carried out under ‘Operation Thunder’ by City Police in the early hours of Monday under Ambazari Police Station limits.

 

The raids were conducted simultaneously at Soro Cafe, Nimbus Lounge and Hash Cafe under the supervision of Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, DCP Zone IV Rashmitha Rao and DCP II Nityanand Jha. At Soro Cafe, police found 29 persons inside, including customers and staff, allegedly consuming hookah in closed rooms filled with smoke. Hookah pots, tobacco products and other materials were seized from the premises. The situation at Nimbus Lounge was more serious, police said. A total of 41 persons were found inside, and officers alleged that, exits had been restricted for several hours, while hookah service continued. Fire Brigade teams were called after police noticed panic and suffocation risks in the enclosed space.

 

The entrance was forcibly opened and everyone was evacuated safely. At Hash Cafe, police found the premises locked from outside with 14 persons inside. Fire Brigade personnel broke open the entrance and rescued all occupants without injury. “During the operation, we found that, people inside some cafes were unable to leave due to restricted exits. Considering the smoke-filled environment, immediate evacuation became necessary,” a senior police officer said. Police have registered offences under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA), COTPA Act and Maharashtra Police Act. Further investigation is underway.