Tragedy struck in Maharashtra's Talawade area of Pimpri Chinchwad as a devastating fire broke out at a candle-making factory on Friday afternoon, resulting in the loss of six lives and leaving several others injured.
Pimpri Chinchwad ACP (crime) Padmakar Ghanwat confirmed the unfortunate incident, stating, "Six individuals have lost their lives, while eight others sustained injuries in a fire that erupted at a candle-making factory around 3:00 pm today. Investigations are underway to determine the cause behind this tragic occurrence."
Emergency responders were alerted to the blaze after receiving a distress call at approximately 2:45 pm. The injured victims were swiftly transported to hospitals located in nearby Pune and the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation area for urgent medical care.
The factory, specializing in the production of sparkling candles commonly used in celebratory events such as birthdays, became the site of this catastrophic fire.
Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh confirmed that the fire has been extinguished, though the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined.
In a parallel development, the Bombay High Court reprimanded the Maharashtra government earlier this week for delays in enforcing fire safety regulations. The court was addressing a public interest litigation seeking the implementation of special rules and regulations drafted in 2009 to enhance fire safety measures in buildings susceptible to man-made disasters. Notably, the State assured the court that the notification for these regulations would be issued by May 2024.
The genesis of these regulations stemmed from the aftermath of the 2009 draft, conceived in response to the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai. The Bombay HC criticized the government's lack of action despite prior recommendations, prompting a call for immediate compliance with fire safety norms to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
