Pune Civic Body Conducts Mock Drill Simulating Blast, Fire at Headquarters
Pune, 13th October 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) conducted a mock drill simulating a bomb-like explosion and fire at its main building on Tuesday as part of the observance of World Disaster Risk Reduction Day.
The drill began at 3.55 pm, with fire brigade teams from Kasba and Erandwane dispatched to the site. Additional vehicles, including a high-rise ladder unit and a rescue van, were also deployed.
Firefighters found a fire on the second floor, with employees trapped inside. Four employees were rescued using a fireman’s lift and shifted to hospital, while five other injured persons were evacuated. Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajit Nair and other officials and citizens stranded on the terrace were rescued using a high-rise ladder. The entire building was evacuated.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 15 minutes of reaching the site. The Shivajinagar police, bomb detection and disposal squad, and dog squad also searched the building as part of the exercise.
The fire brigade received the alert at 3.55 pm, and the first vehicles reached the site at 4 pm. The rescue operation was completed by 4.09 pm, the fire was brought under control by 4.15 pm, and the high-rise ladder rescue was completed by 4.20 pm. The drill concluded at 4.35 pm.
After the exercise, Nair commended the fire brigade and police teams, saying such drills help identify operational gaps and enable authorities to take corrective measures. Chief Fire Officer Ganesh Sonune thanked the fire brigade, police, security, disaster management, health and electrical departments for their coordination.
