Kohinoor Presidentia Fire: Residents Allege Lapses in Access, Safety Systems

Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Ghorpadi, 16th February 2026: Fresh details have surfaced following the major fire at C-Wing of Kohinoor Presidentia, BT Kawde Road, in Ghorpadi, with residents alleging serious shortcomings in fire preparedness, building access and safety mechanisms in the high-rise complex.

The fire reportedly broke out around 10.30 am and was brought under control at approximately 3 pm. According to residents, flames spread up to a flat near the 17th floor. They further claimed that a cylinder explosion occurred before firefighters could reach the upper floors, intensifying the blaze and completely gutting one flat.

Fire Brigade Access Concerns
Residents stated that the nearest fire station is located barely 200 metres from the society. However, they alleged that fire tenders took nearly 90 minutes to position themselves effectively near the building.

According to residents, emergency vehicles faced multiple obstacles:
The society has only two entry gates, both described as narrow.
A significant portion of the premises is used for open parking, requiring residents to manually shift vehicles before fire engines could enter.
Fire trucks reportedly faced difficulty near the entrance due to congestion and a large pothole outside the gate.
Internal roads within the complex were said to be narrow and obstructed by parked vehicles.

As a result, some fire engines remained stationed outside, and firefighters had to extend hoses over a considerable distance to begin operations.
Residents also pointed out that a sanctioned Development Plan (DP) road behind the building has not yet been constructed. They claimed that direct access through this road could have enabled quicker intervention and potentially reduced the extent of damage.

Alleged Safety Lapses
Residents further alleged gaps in fire safety infrastructure and preparedness within the building:
The fire alarm system allegedly did not function.
The internal sprinkler system was reportedly non-operational.
No fire safety drills or evacuation demonstrations had been conducted for residents.
Residents said they were unaware of the location or operation of the booster pump.
They claimed there was no clear guidance from security or management during the emergency.

“During the fire, there was confusion. We had to clear parked vehicles ourselves to allow the fire brigade to enter,” a resident said.

Post-Incident Issues
Following the fire, residents reported additional concerns. A short circuit was allegedly detected in the building, and lifts in C-Wing remained non-operational for two days, causing inconvenience, particularly for elderly residents and those living on higher floors.

Police Complaint
Residents said they have approached the police seeking action.
“We have submitted a complaint. We were informed that the FIR may be registered after the fire brigade submits its report,” a resident stated.
Around 200 flats are located in the affected tower, with an estimated 600 residents living in the building. Residents expressed concern that similar challenges could arise in other wings if emergency access issues are not addressed.

Questions Over Clearances
Residents have also raised questions regarding project approvals and safety clearances.

“How was the NOC granted without ensuring adequate road access and functional safety systems? If a larger fire breaks out in another wing, how will emergency services respond?” residents questioned, alleging responsibility on both the developer and the Pune Municipal Corporation.

Residents are now demanding immediate construction of the pending DP road, a comprehensive fire safety audit, proper regulation of parking within the society, and accountability from the developer as well as civic authorities.

Officials are expected to examine the cause of the fire and assess whether prescribed fire safety norms were complied with.