Medicines worth crores of rupees were saved after a freak fire, triggered by a short circuit, broke out in Hindu Pharmacy. Panic struck the market as many shops are adjacent to the pharmacy and they could have been engulfed, had it been a major fire.
Interacting with the media, Datta Naik, a builder, developer and a prominent citizen of the town, said, “On Chavath days there is so much of fireworks in the market; and if there is a fire incident in the market in such a time, then, God forbid the results.”
“There are no hydrants or fire extinguishers in the market. The Hindu Pharmacy fire incident is an example of the level of panic that will be caused if there are major fires in the market,” Naik predicted.
“These old structures have to be demolished and rebuilt with proper facilities, because, in most fire incidents people die of fear and stampede than of the fire itself,” said Datta Naik.
He said that he had spoken to the MMC chairperson and requested to get a fire extinguishers and fire hydrants fitted immediately.
