A tragic incident unfolded in Thane, Maharashtra, as a massive fire engulfed the Gamdevi Vegetable Market building on Gokhale Road in the Naupada area early Thursday morning. The blaze, starting at 3:45 a.m., claimed the lives of a firefighter and a security guard while leaving two others with severe burn injuries. The fire, initially unnoticed due to the early hour, quickly spread through the market, causing panic in the neighborhood.
The market, a hub for vegetable and clothing stalls, witnessed towering flames and thick smoke, prompting residents to alert the fire department. Six fire tenders swiftly responded to the scene, initiating firefighting efforts. Tragically, Station Officer Sagar Shinde and security guard Kalu Shankar Gadekar lost their lives in the line of duty during the operation.
Sustaining injuries in the fire were Fire Brigade Station Officer Sujit Pashte and Fire Brigade Tandel Sameer Jadhav, both receiving treatment at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital for severe burns. As firefighting teams battled the blaze, the cause of the fire remains under investigation, with efforts focused on preventing further spread to adjacent structures.
