Ghaziabad: Nearly two weeks after the April 29 fire at Gaur Green Avenue, residents whose flats were gutted have begun exploring legal action against the residents’ welfare association, accusing it of allowing unauthorised constructions that blocked emergency access and failing to maintain fire safety systems.Rajnish Kumar, an architect whose 11th-floor flat was destroyed in the blaze, has written to the chief minister’s office, district magistrate and police commissioner, seeking an FIR against RWA office-bearers. He alleged that illegal construction around the society’s swimming pool area blocked access for fire tenders, allowing the blaze to spread to the upper floors.“The fire initially started in Flat No. D-943. Had there been proper fire safety arrangements and unobstructed access for fire tenders, the fire could have been contained at an early stage,” the letter said. He further alleged that the society’s fire alarms were non-functional, there was no water pressure in the firefighting pipelines, and emergency equipment failed during the incident.
Road to D tower narrowed by pool wall and a park
Kumar purchased the flat last year for Rs 2.5 crore and estimates his losses — furniture, documents, jewellery and cash — at over Rs 2 crore. His family spent two weeks in a hotel before moving to rented accommodation in Vaishali.Kumar demanded a judicial and fire safety inquiry, removal of encroachments obstructing emergency access routes, an investigation into alleged misuse of RWA funds, and compensation for affected families. He alleged that residents urged the RWA to demolish the pool wall using earthmovers stationed outside the society during the fire, but were denied permission.
RWA president said the iron-and-fibre-sheet structure was part of the builder’s handover and that a general body meeting last year approved its construction
His demands follow a district administration inquiry report, submitted to DM Ravindra Kumar Mander on May 11, which flagged unauthorised constructions, a blocked fire driveway, and poor fire safety maintenance as factors that hampered rescue and firefighting operations. The report, however, found no evidence of conspiracy or deliberate arson and said the exact cause of the fire could not be established with certainty.Anurag Sharma, whose flat 1045 was also completely gutted, said he was waiting for an official copy of the DM’s inquiry report before initiating legal proceedings. “I am only waiting for the report to be shared with us officially, following which I will take all legal steps against the RWA and fight for my rights. I have suffered a loss of over Rs 3 crore,” said Sharma, who works with an education group.
Narrow roads kept hydraulic cranes from reaching fire-hit tower, hampering rescue
Beyond the financial toll, Sharma said irreplaceable personal possessions were lost, including a collection of cricket bats signed by the New Zealand national team. Sharma, his wife and five-year-old twins are currently living in a vacant flat within the society, offered by its owner. He added that the RWA holds an emergency fund of Rs 8 crore collected from maintenance charges that residents believe should be deployed for flat renovation, but said no such steps have been taken so far.The family of Kamal Paliwal, owner of flat D-943 from which the fire allegedly originated, has pushed back against what they called unfair blame. Mitlesh Paliwal, the owner’s son, denied the RWA’s claims that the fire was caused by woodwork and a diya inside the flat. “This is completely false and defamatory. We will take legal action against them,” he said.Mitesh told TOI that no renovation had been carried out at the flat for the past month, and the family last visited the unit a week before the fire. They were packing to move in, with a housewarming ceremony planned for the first week of May.“My 67-year-old father bought this flat around five years ago from his retirement fund, and now it is completely charred. We cannot put a value on what we have lost. Our family suffered a loss, and on top of it, we are being blamed for the fire. This is unfair,” he said.
Eight flats across five floors were completely charred
Mitesh said the family was also awaiting the DM’s report before taking further legal steps.RWA president Kunjesh Parihar said the association had not received any formal complaint from residents. “We have been trying to raise funds for the affected residents so that they can be helped. However, if some residents want to take legal action, they can go ahead. We can only respond once we get a written complaint,” he said.On the swimming pool wall, Parihar said the iron-and-fibre-sheet structure was part of the builder’s handover and that a general body meeting last year approved its construction. He added that the new pool registration rules mandated a boundary wall. The RWA has also written to authorities requesting a structural audit of the affected towers to certify their safety, he said.RWA office-bearers claimed they have started removing some of the obstructions in the society to prevent a rerun of the April 29 incident.
