Nagpur: A wave of fire incidents sweeping through Nagpur over the past few weeks has once again exposed glaring negligence by builders and the poor implementation of fire safety norms in commercial and residential establishments. From godowns and restaurants to high-rise buildings, recurring blazes have kept the Fire and Emergency Department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on edge, raising questions over the city’s preparedness to deal with such emergencies.
In the latest case, a dairy shop near the TV Tower in Seminary Hills caught fire early Monday morning. The flames destroyed three refrigerators, furniture, cash worth ₹2.5 lakh, and other goods, with total damages estimated at around ₹20 lakh. Fire officials received a distress call around 5 am and dispatched a tender from the Civil Lines Fire Station. It took nearly an hour to bring the situation under control. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, though officials suspect an electrical short circuit.
Just a day earlier, two major fires were reported — one at a popular restaurant in Dharampeth and another at a scrap factory on Old Kamptee Road. Together, property worth ₹1.30 crore was reduced to ashes, though timely efforts by firefighters helped prevent additional losses estimated at ₹1 crore. Investigations are underway to determine if safety lapses and lack of maintenance contributed to the incidents.
Earlier this month, Diwali night turned disastrous for many as 18 fire incidents were reported across the city, half of them triggered by firecrackers. The most severe was the massive blaze at the Reliance SMART Superstore at Aath Rasta Square, where flames shot up to the ninth floor of the building. Stocks of daily-use goods, electrical fittings, and furniture were completely gutted. Despite the scale of destruction, timely evacuation helped avert casualties.
The festive period also saw 31 people, including two toddlers, sustain burn injuries due to mishandled firecrackers. Most of the victims were admitted to Mayo Hospital and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with facial and hand burns.
With back-to-back fires reported in shops, warehouses, and residential areas, officials have urged strict enforcement of fire safety regulations. The NMC has also warned that action will be initiated against building owners and developers found operating without valid fire no-objection certificates (NOCs) or functioning safety systems such as alarms, extinguishers, and hydrants.
