A fire broke out on the 22nd floor of the Kakkad La Vida residential building in Balewadi, Pune, on Saturday afternoon, prompting the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Baner fire brigade to send personnel to the high-rise. No loss of life was reported, as the occupants of the affected flat were away when the blaze began.
The fire started in a flat in Wing B of the multi-storey residential building near Laxmi Mata Temple at around 4.30 pm, according to a report by Sakal – Pune. Large clouds of smoke and visible flames emerging from the upper floor drew the attention of residents and people in the surrounding area.
The affected flat was occupied by Dr Abhaya Natore, who was away when the fire broke out, the report said. The flames spread within a short period, with smoke and fire visible from the floor. The incident led to concern among residents because of the height of the affected apartment and the difficulty of reaching a fire at that level.
Fire brigade personnel from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Baner fire station reached the building after receiving information about the incident. Firefighters began efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further. The height of the apartment floor made firefighting operations challenging, according to the report.
Shivaji Memane, a centre officer with the Baner fire department, said the fire had been brought substantially under control. The report did not provide details of the number of fire tenders deployed or whether residents from other floors were evacuated.
The cause of the fire had not been established at the time of reporting. The extent of damage to the flat and its contents was also not immediately available. The fire department is expected to assess the property after the blaze is fully extinguished and the affected area can be inspected. The damage estimate and the final cause will become clear after that assessment, according to the report.
