Pune: Students Have Narrow Escape After Fire at Coaching Centre in Pimple Saudagar
Pimple Saudagar, 1st December 2025: A fire erupted on Monday afternoon at ASQUARE Medical & IIT-JEE Academy in Pimple Saudagar, prompting a swift response from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Fire Brigade.
The coaching institute is situated inside Prime Square Housing Society on Kunal Icon Road, beneath the well-known Rangla Punjab Restaurant. The incident was reported around 3 pm.
Deputy Fire Officer Gautam Ingawale informed that four fire tenders were deployed for the operation — two from the PCMC headquarters and one each from the Thergaon and Nehru Nagar stations. “Our Rahatani unit, which is the nearest appliance to the location, was already handling another fire call. Reaching the site also took longer than usual because of traffic congestion and ongoing roadwork near Kunjir Chowk,” he said.
According to officials, the fire is suspected to have started from a printer inside the coaching centre. Staff members attempted to douse the flames using available resources, but the blaze quickly intensified, filling the premises with thick smoke.
Students and Staff Rescued Safely
“There were 42 people inside the coaching centre — students along with teaching staff. They were at risk of suffocation due to the spreading smoke. Our team managed to evacuate all of them safely,” Ingawale added.
During the rescue effort, firefighters also discovered five individuals stranded in the Rangla Punjab Restaurant located on the floor above. “The fire was confined to the fourth floor, but smoke had started to spread upwards. We ensured everyone was brought out and the fire was contained before it could cause further damage,” he said, noting that the building houses multiple commercial establishments.
Fire personnel at the scene said that the structure’s layout and restricted access made firefighting operations more challenging. Heavy traffic on Kunal Icon Road further slowed movement of emergency vehicles.
PCMC Fire Brigade has begun inquiries into the cause of the fire. No injuries have been reported.
