The Fire That Never Ends
As a child, I once woke up beside a pool of rainwater and heard those famous lines
“Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink.”
Back then, I didn’t know that one day the element would change and it would be fire, fire everywhere, not an iota of shame.
I remember June 13, 1997 the Uphaar Cinema tragedy in Delhi. Fifty-nine people trapped and burnt alive while watching Border. It was a national nightmare, blamed on negligence, greed, and apathy.
Twenty-six years later, nothing has changed.
Navi Mumbai’s Fiery Month 7 Blazes in 30 Days
In the last 30 days alone, Navi Mumbai has reported seven major fires, each echoing the same story faulty wiring, missing audits, careless construction, and delayed response.
- Vashi, Raheja Residency (Sector 14) – October 21, 2025: A midnight blaze on the 10th floor killed 4 residents, including a 6-year-old child, and injured 14 others.
- Kamothe (Sector 36) – October 16: An LPG leak triggered an explosion that killed a mother and daughter instantly.
- Kharghar, Shree Ravechi Heights (Sector 7) – October 12: A short-circuited AC set an apartment ablaze; 25 residents rescued, property gutted.
- Kharghar, Tricity Symphony (Sector 34C) – October 9: A massive fire due to open electrical ducts 15 rescued, no fatalities.
- Vashi, Goodwill Building (Sector 19B) – October 31: A Swiggy Instamart store caught fire; four fire engines fought the flames.
- Kalamboli Industrial Area – October 25: A chemical godown blaze destroyed machinery and goods worth lakhs.
- Taloja MIDC Zone – October 27: Another industrial fire caused by overheated equipment; fortunately, no loss of life.
The Unchanged Script
Different locations, same negligence.
Fire alarms that don’t work. Emergency exits blocked. No disaster drills. No accountability.
As Chief Fire Officer Pravin Bodkhe (PCMC) recently stated:
“Every society is required to renew its Fire NOC every six months. Very few actually comply. The pattern of neglect is dangerous.”
Another senior officer from the Navi Mumbai Fire Brigade added:
“We are reacting to fires when we should be preventing them. Fire audits are missing, hydrants are dry, and safety rules remain on paper.”
From Awareness to Action Citizens Must Rise
It’s time Navi Mumbai’s citizens become fire-literate.
Check your own homes: fix loose wiring, turn off gas cylinders, don’t light agarbattis near curtains.
Ask your housing society for its latest Fire Audit certificate. Demand mock drills. Report locked exits or defunct alarms.
Because if every home, every building, every resident takes one small preventive step maybe we can stop the next blaze before it starts. Navi Mumbai was designed to be a planned city.
Let’s ensure it doesn’t become a burning one.
