Pune: In a significant incident, a fire broke out at the newly inaugurated Mahatma Phule Mandai Metro Station in Pune in the wee hours of Monday (October 21).
The fire, which erupted around midnight, prompted a rapid response from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s fire department. Five fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and firefighters managed to contain the blaze within minutes.
According to the fire department, although the metro station has sustained considerable damage, there were no reported injuries.
Officials suggest that welding work being carried out in the basement of the station led to the fire when foam materials caught alight, producing a large amount of smoke. Firefighters used respiratory protection equipment and water hoses to control the situation within five to ten minutes.
Despite the damage, Pune Metro authorities assured that the fire would not impact metro services. Pune Metro Executive Director Shravan Hardikar shared that the fire occurred after passenger services had concluded for the day, and efforts to assess and mitigate the damage are ongoing.
Additionally, Member of Parliament Murlidhar Mohol tweeted that the fire department had acted swiftly and effectively, preventing any further escalation of the situation.
Concerns have been raised about the safety of passengers, given that the metro station was inaugurated while construction work was still ongoing. Authorities have begun an investigation into the incident to determine the cause and to implement additional safety measures if necessary.
