623 pipes worth Rs20L gutted near Narsala

Nagpur: As many as 623 sewer line pipes worth around Rs20 lakh were destroyed in a fire that broke out at an open storage site near the Chanakyapuri water tank on Narsala Road on Sunday morning. Thick black smoke from the blaze rose high into the sky and was visible from several kilometres away, causing panic among nearby residents.
Large-scale sewer line works are currently underway in the Chanakyapuri and Narsala areas, and thousands of plastic and synthetic TWC pipes were stored near the public water tank for the project. At around 10 am on March 1, residents noticed flames and smoke emerging from the stock of pipes and immediately alerted authorities. Locals informed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) fire department about the incident. Within 15 to 20 minutes, 3 fire tenders reached the spot and began firefighting operations. Fire personnel managed to bring the blaze under control within about 15 minutes, preventing it from spreading to the remaining pipe stock and nearby residential houses. According to sources, a total of 1,647 TWC pipes were stored at the site for the ongoing project. Of these, 623 pipes were completely burnt in the blaze, leading to an estimated loss of around Rs20 lakh. However, 1,047 pipes worth approximately Rs38 lakh were saved due to the swift response of the fire brigade. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. However, residents suspect that the blaze may have started after garbage was burnt in an open area nearby and later spread to the stored pipes. Fire tenders from different centres jointly carried out the firefighting operation. Two vehicles from NMC's Sakkardara and Wathoda fire stations rushed to the spot, along with a fire vehicle from Besa Nagar Panchayat. Sources said the timely intervention of the fire brigade helped prevent a major mishap, as several houses are located close to the site. Had the fire spread further, the remaining pipes and nearby properties could also have been at risk.