Firefighters Battle Inferno for Hours; Authorities to Crack Down on Illegal Operations
A devastating fire tore through the Kudalwadi area of Pimpri-Chinchwad late Friday night, reducing more than 150 illegal scrap shops and godowns to ashes. Firefighting efforts lasted for five hours, involving a significant deployment of personnel and resources from multiple agencies, according to officials.
The alarm was raised at approximately 12:48 am, prompting a swift response from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) fire brigade department. Over 164 personnel and 16 fire tenders from PCMC, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Mahindra Company joined forces to contain the raging inferno, which threatened to engulf nearby structures.
Despite the concerted efforts of firefighters, the exact cause of the blaze remains undetermined, with authorities yet to ascertain the origins of the fire outbreak. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, although the extensive damage to property and livelihoods is substantial.
By around 5:30 am on Saturday, firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, initiating a protracted cool-down operation that extended well into the evening. Heavy police presence was deployed to manage the sizable crowd that had gathered at the site to witness the aftermath of the catastrophe.
Balaji Vaidya, sub-fire officer at PCMC fire brigade, highlighted the challenges faced by firefighters in combating the blaze, citing the close proximity of shops and godowns, as well as the presence of combustible materials such as wood, scrap, and chemical containers. “The intensity of the fire necessitated over 40 trips to refill water for firefighting operations,” Vaidya revealed.
Furthermore, Vaidya underscored the prevalence of illegal establishments in the area, many of which operate without adhering to basic fire safety protocols, exacerbating the risks posed by such incidents.
This is not the first time Kudalwadi has witnessed such a disaster, as a similar fire incident ravaged 80 scrap shops and godowns in 2017. In response, PCMC has intensified efforts to identify and crack down on illegal commercial operations, with municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh pledging robust measures to prevent future calamities.
“We will hold accountable the landowners who facilitate the operation of these illegal businesses, flagrantly disregarding fire safety regulations,” asserted Singh, emphasizing the importance of stringent enforcement to safeguard lives and property in the region.
