Pune News: In a daring late-night operation, firefighters successfully rescued a software engineer and his family, including his mother, wife, and two children, who were trapped in the balcony of their seventh-floor flat on Kondhwa-Bibvewadi Road. The incident unfolded around 1:48 am on Saturday, as a fire broke out, consuming their 2BHK apartment in Gangadham Housing Society Phase-2.
The family members, identified as software engineer Mahesh Oswal (41), his mother Ushal Oswal (61), wife Bhakti (41), and children Ahana (9) and Arav (5), were trapped on the balcony as thick black fumes billowed from their flat. The fire reportedly originated in the temple in the hall, believed to be caused by a burning oil lamp.
Despite the devastating impact on their belongings and apartment, the family escaped unharmed, thanks to the swift response of the building’s residents and the Pune Fire Brigade. The entire building rallied to control the fire, attempting to open doors and alerting the fire brigade.
Fire officer Kailash Shinde from the Kondhwa sub-fire station explained, “Residents poured buckets of water on the flat’s door but failed to gain control over the fire. Firefighters reached the spot, broke open the door, and rescued the family from the balcony. Timely action prevented the fire from spreading to other rooms.”
The fire, which gutted wooden furniture, electronic devices, and electrical wiring in the kitchen and hall, was brought under control within 30 minutes, with another 30 minutes required to fully extinguish the flames. Six fire tenders and a water tanker were deployed in the firefighting operation.
While consoling the shaken Oswal family, firefighters offered support and water, ensuring their well-being during the challenging situation. Mahesh Oswal later discussed the absence of fire safety measures in the building with the society’s chairman, emphasizing the need for prompt activation of safety systems.
