A Pune wada fire damaged the historic two-storey Bhandari Wada in Gurुवार Peth at around 10.30 pm on November 10, after a burning firecracker is suspected to have fallen into the upper floor of the old building. No one was injured or killed in the incident.
According to a report by Lokmat – Pune, the fire broke out on the upper floor of Bhandari Wada in the Gurुवार Peth area during Diwali celebrations. The exact cause has not been conclusively established, but the initial assessment cited in the report is that a lit firecracker may have landed inside the wada.
The Pune Fire Brigade was informed soon after the fire started and sent personnel to the location. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 30 minutes, preventing it from spreading further through the building and the surrounding area.
The fire caused extensive damage to the old wada. The report did not specify the monetary value of the loss or identify the particular sections of the building that were damaged. It also did not mention any evacuation, neighbouring property damage or disruption to local roads and services.
Bhandari Wada is located in Gurुवार Peth, one of Pune’s older and densely built neighbourhoods. Fires in such structures can pose particular challenges because older buildings may contain combustible materials and stand close to adjoining properties. In this incident, however, the fire brigade’s response contained the blaze and no casualties were reported.
The incident has again drawn attention to the risk posed by firecrackers near old residential structures and wadas. The source report said the circumstances underline the need for residents to exercise caution while setting off firecrackers, particularly near ageing buildings and closely packed urban settlements.
