Overview
- Firefighters in Bhopal deployed dozens of tenders and around 30 water tankers to control a pre-dawn timber-market blaze near the Patra underpass, with traders reporting losses in the crores and officials noting several workers were injured.
- This was the second major fire at the Bhopal timber hub in about 45 days, heightening concern over heavy wood stocks near homes, a petrol pump and active railway tracks as police and fire officers probe the cause.
- In Mumbai, a duct fire at City Mall in Andheri West prompted a partial evacuation and power cut before crews contained it within about 40 minutes, and a separate office blaze at Emgeen Chambers in Santacruz East was doused without injuries.
- Municipal checks have intensified ahead of New Year’s events, with the BMC saying it inspected 1,221 establishments between December 22 and 26, issued 20 notices and took action against 59 for fire-safety violations.
- The BMC also confirmed that one victim of a December 21 Andheri East chawl fire died on December 24, while two others remain in critical condition as investigations continue.