Pune: A fire that broke out in a narrow lane near Hotel Roopali on Fergusson College Road around 12.20 am on Saturday has once again exposed the safety risks posed by unregulated stalls and illegal vendors.The incident has sparked fresh concerns among residents and visitors about the lack of emergency access in one of the city’s busiest commercial hubs.According to the fire department, the blaze started in a lane off Fergusson College Road. The fire quickly engulfed a tin shed used for selling clothes and spread to a power supply distribution pillar and damaged nearby trees. While a fire brigade team managed to bring the blaze under control before it could spread to adjacent buildings, the incident served as a stark reminder of the area’s vulnerability. No injuries or casualties were reported.Local residents and regular visitors say the area is a “tinderbox” due to the high density of flammable materials and cooking equipment.“A tragedy was averted on Friday night only because the fire was controlled quickly,” said Ashish Jadhav, a local resident. “But this area faces a similar risk every day. Food stalls operate on the footpaths using LPG cylinders right next to cloth vendors. There are no safety measures in place.”The congestion is not limited to the main road; smaller lanes are frequently blocked by vendors, leaving little to no space for pedestrians or emergency vehicles. Vir Kapse, a regular visitor, said the lane where the fire occurred is often choked by sellers and two-wheelers driving in the wrong direction. “The illegal vendors play a game of hide-and-seek; they vanish during PMC drives and return the moment the officials leave,” he said.In the wake of the fire, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment department initiated a fresh drive on Saturday.“We have had a dedicated vehicle stationed on Fergusson College Road for several months to take action against illegal vendors. We intend to intensify these operations in the coming days,” a PMC official said. While the official said there are designated zones for stalls, he admitted that many vendors continue to encroach upon footpaths and prohibited areas.Residents have calling for a “sustained and permanent” solution rather than sporadic raids.The Fergusson College Road fire was not an isolated event. Another fire was reported around the same time in Deccan Gymkhana area, where material stored outside an eatery caught fire. While both blazes were extinguished promptly, the back-to-back incidents have placed the spotlight firmly on the fire safety standards of the city’s popular hangout spots.
