Pune: After Undri Fire Tragedy, PMC Orders Housing Societies to Fix Firefighting Systems Within 7 Days
Pune: After Undri Fire Tragedy, PMC Orders Housing Societies to Fix Firefighting Systems Within 7 Days
Pune, September 29, 2025: A day after a massive blaze in a 14-storey residential tower in Undri claimed the life of a 15-year-old boy, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued strict directions to housing societies across the city to immediately check and restore their firefighting systems.
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram stated that all societies will be given seven days to ensure their fire safety mechanisms are operational. “We will send notices to every residential complex to confirm that their firefighting system is in working condition. If any lapses are found, action will be taken,” he stated.
On Friday, the fire broke out in an apartment on the 12th floor of Marvel Ideal Spacio Society. The victim, identified as Tarsh Kamal Khetan, reportedly died of suffocation, while eight others, including two firefighters, sustained injuries. Fire brigade teams found that the society’s firefighting equipment was not functional at the time of the incident.
The commissioner confirmed that an inquiry has been launched. “If the system was not working, responsibility will be fixed, and legal action, including filing of FIRs, will follow,” he said. The civic body will also begin a wider fire audit of housing complexes, hotels, and hospitals, while simultaneously verifying whether residential projects possess valid fire NOCs.
PMC Fire Brigade Chief Devendra Potphode said initial findings suggest that a short circuit in the kitchen triggered the fire. “The flat door was locked from inside, and the boy was alone. As our team broke in, the gas cylinder exploded due to the heat. Two of our men sustained burns while the society chairman, who was helping in the rescue, was also injured,” he explained.
The society, comprising eight wings and more than 500 flats, was equipped with a fire safety system. However, officials remain unclear why it failed during the crisis. Potphode stressed that residents must remain vigilant. “Firefighting systems are installed for residents’ own safety. If the system had been functional, this tragedy might have been prevented,” he said, adding that the brigade routinely offers training sessions to societies on handling fire equipment.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about compliance with fire safety norms in Pune’s residential complexes, with PMC now tightening enforcement to avoid similar tragedies.
