A devastating fire ripped through Pune’s Fashion Street market, destroying over 500 shops and leaving countless vendors without livelihoods. The blaze, which erupted late at night, required the tireless efforts of 16 fire tenders, two water tankers, and 60 fire officials, including 10 officers, to finally bring it under control after approximately four hours.
Fashion Street, located on MG Road, is a bustling hub for affordable clothing, shoes, and accessories, attracting locals and tourists alike. The fire represents a significant loss not only for the individual shop owners and hawkers but also for the city’s vibrant commercial landscape. While no casualties have been reported, the financial impact on the vendors is substantial, according to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Chief Fire Officer.
This incident follows a string of recent fires across Maharashtra. Just a day prior, a major fire erupted at an industrial unit in Badlapur MIDC in Thane district and another blaze engulfed a godown storing electric wires in Mumbai’s Prabhadevi area. While these fires were brought under control, they highlight the pressing need for improved fire safety measures.
Tragically, a recent fire at a COVID-19 treatment hospital in a Mumbai mall claimed the lives of nine patients due to suffocation. Two other patients at the same facility had succumbed to the virus before the fire broke out. These incidents underscore the critical importance of comprehensive fire prevention and response strategies in various settings, from crowded marketplaces to healthcare facilities.
