A dawn fire near Bohri Ali damaged a crockery business

Pune: At about five in the morning on Monday, a crockery store on the ground level of a commercial building near Bohri Ali caught fire, causing panic in the neighborhood’s tiny streets.

Officials from the fire department said that no injuries had been reported. They were trying to figure out what caused the fire.
The store is a part of a ground-plus-three-story complex, according to fire brigade authorities, with clothing stores located on the top levels.

To put out the fire, at least four water tankers and fire tenders were sent to the scene. Fire official Vijay Bhilare told TOI, “The flames were brought under control before the same could engulf the upper floors and shops in neighbouring buildings.”
“There was nobody inside the structure. The fire officer said that several locals were made aware of the smoke’s presence and realized it was emanating from the crockery business. Thick black smoke billowed from the fire-affected neighborhood, forcing residents to flee their houses in order to avoid suffocating.

Firefighters searched the store to check if anybody was inside, but they came up empty, according to authorities. “We were asleep in our flat when my friends woke me up and told me to come down,” local resident Suraj Kale told TOI.
Another villager, Kailash Barot, said, “We woke up to the sound of fire brigade sirens and smoke.” In Raviwar Peth’s little alleyways, there was terror.
“The small lane remains jam-packed with stalls and handcarts selling various trinkets,” fire officer Bhilare said. The road was thankfully deserted early in the morning.
Though Bohri Ali is best known for its hardware store, it has grown over the years to include stores selling everything from kites to stationery, tea powder, veggies, cutlery, festive décor, apparel, mirrors, paper plates and bowls, and funeral necessities. The nearby alleyways have also grown into a bustling marketplace.