A tragic fire at the Gaondevi vegetable market in Thane on Thursday claimed two lives and left three others injured, igniting a political firestorm. Leaders from various parties have accused the civic administration of negligence, alleging that repeated warnings about safety hazards were ignored.
Building Conditions and Safety Violations
Activists described the three-story structure, which sees thousands of visitors daily, as a potential disaster due to numerous safety violations. The ground floor housed the vegetable market, the basement was used for parking, and the first floor accommodated the Deputy District Registrar's office and the Naupada-Kopri ward office.
Rahul Pingale, newly elected Congress City District President, stated that he had repeatedly flagged serious risks, including unauthorized constructions, blocked staircases, ramp encroachments, inadequate fire safety systems, and the lack of an Occupancy Certificate (OC) and final fire NOC. He claimed these issues could have led to a major disaster.
“I met the Municipal Commissioner and highlighted the dangerous condition of the building. A fire department inspection was conducted and a report submitted, but no action followed. Illegal constructions were not removed, and fire safety was not ensured. The OC process is still pending. This is administrative negligence, and action must be taken against responsible officials,” Pingale said.
Political Reactions and Allegations
Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajan Vichare questioned whether the blaze was accidental or deliberate. He argued that only vegetable vending should have been permitted, but violations were overlooked. “There is suspicion the market was being shifted for commercial redevelopment. This must be investigated,” he said.
NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad criticized the civic body for focusing on cosmetic projects like painting flyovers while neglecting core urban needs and leaving key posts vacant, alleging that governance was being handed over to contractors.
BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar also demanded strict action against responsible officials as a deterrent. Activist Rajeev Datta alleged misuse of stalls, claiming vendors sublet spaces to garment and food traders, and called for accountability from officials and traders instead of burdening taxpayers.
Government Response and Next Steps
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who visited the site, announced a comprehensive fire safety and structural audit of the building and similar structures. He assured the rehabilitation of affected traders within the same building at the earliest possible time.
The incident has raised questions about enforcement of safety regulations and accountability in Thane's civic administration. As investigations continue, the political fallout is expected to persist.
