Pune firefighters recruited over a year ago lack fire suits and uniforms.
Absence of protective gear has caused injuries during fires.
Human rights activists plan to approach the High Court over PMC negligence.
Pune, 18 October 2025: Firefighters recruited by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) one and a half years ago are still working without proper fire suits and uniforms. These protective gears are essential for their safety while tackling fires, yet the administration has delayed their distribution, putting the lives of the personnel at risk.
Recently, during fire operations, some firefighters suffered burns due to the absence of proper gear. This has raised serious concerns about administrative negligence and the safety of those responsible for controlling fires in the city.
PMC’s fire department has 23 sub-centres, and in 2024, a total of 167 personnel were recruited. Human rights activist Manish Deshpande, through a Right to Information request, revealed that despite the clear need, these recruits have not been provided with uniforms or fire suits.
“Daily fires occur across Pune, and these personnel rush to control them. Sending them without protective gear is like playing with their lives. The administration should be more sensitive, especially during high-risk periods like Diwali,” said legal expert And. Asim Sarode.
Deshpande has filed complaints with PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and Chief Fire Officer Devendra Potphode, while Uday Bhat, president of the workers’ union, has also sent a written request to the authorities. Attempts to reach Chief Fire Officer Potphode for comment were unsuccessful.
A recent incident in Undri highlighted the danger. Firefighters Vishwajeet Wagh and Prithviraj Khedkar suffered burns when a gas cylinder exploded at a residence, and they were not wearing fire suits.
Deshpande noted that such incidents are becoming frequent. Legal expert And. Shreya Awale stated that a petition regarding human rights violations will soon be filed in the High Court.