A devastating early morning fire on Tuesday completely destroyed a multi-storey commercial building housing a garment showroom in one of Nagpur's busiest and most congested market areas, resulting in a massive financial loss estimated at around Rs 2.5 crore.
Fire Erupts in Congested Market Zone
The blaze broke out at approximately 5:30 am at Sai Garments, located in the Devghar Mohalla area of Jagannath Budhwari market. The ground-plus-three-storey complex was swiftly engulfed by flames. Fire officials confirmed that the timing of the incident, in the early hours, was a critical factor in preventing any human casualties in the densely populated commercial zone.
The fire station received the alert via its PBX system. Fire tenders from the Ganjipeth station were dispatched immediately, with the first engine leaving at 5:50 am and a second following at 5:52 am. However, upon arrival, firefighters encountered a major obstacle: the complex was situated in an extremely narrow lane, barely 600 feet from the main road, which was inaccessible to their vehicles.
Firefighting Hampered by Narrow Lanes
Chief Fire Officer Tushar Barahate stated that the biggest challenge was reaching the building directly. "Fire tenders could not access the spot due to the extremely narrow lanes," Barahate said. This severe access issue significantly delayed the firefighting operation, forcing crews to lay long hose lines to combat the flames from a distance.
Given the intensity of the fire, which rapidly spread across all four floors, additional reinforcements were called in. Fire tenders from multiple stations across the city joined the operation, including units from Lakadganj, Sugat Nagar, Wathoda, Cotton Market, Civil Lines, Sakkardara, Narendra Nagar, and Kalamna. The combined effort lasted for about five hours before the inferno was finally brought under control.
Total Destruction and Lack of Safety Systems
The garment complex, owned by Rajesh Thomani and Sandip Thomani, suffered near-total damage. Officials reported that nothing could be salvaged from the premises, with the estimated saving recorded as nil. The inventory destroyed included:
- Large quantities of women's garments
- Air-conditioners and approximately 80 coolers
- LED lights, fans, and complete internal electrical wiring
- Printers, computers, and CCTV systems
- POP (Plaster of Paris) fittings
CFO Barahate revealed that the building lacked any in-house firefighting arrangements, such as sprinklers or extinguishers, which worsened the situation. "There were no fire fighting systems installed in the building. A detailed inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the exact cause of the fire and examine compliance with fire safety norms," he stated.
The Tehsil police station is investigating the case. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, the incident has highlighted critical concerns regarding fire safety compliance and emergency access in Nagpur's older, congested market areas.
