Pune: In the early hours of Friday morning, a fire broke out at Agarwal General Stores in the Wilson Garden area near Pune Station.

The swift response of the fire brigade prevented a major disaster, and all the passengers staying in the adjacent lodge were safely evacuated without injury.

The incident occurred at around 4:30 AM when local residents noticed thick smoke billowing from the general store. Concerned citizens immediately alerted the fire department, prompting a rapid response.

Two fire engines and two water tankers, led by fire station chief Vijay Bhilare, rushed to the scene. The firefighters worked quickly to bring the fire under control using water jets.

While the shop’s inventory suffered significant damage, the biggest concern was the large volume of smoke, which had spread to the nearby lodge.

Fearing for the safety of the lodge residents, firefighters swiftly moved to evacuate all occupants. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the situation was contained before it could escalate.

Initial investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

The fire department is conducting further inquiries to determine what triggered the blaze.

This fire comes just two weeks after a similar incident in the Wadgaon Sheri area, where five shops were engulfed in flames. With back-to-back fires in commercial areas, authorities are urging business owners to take extra precautions to prevent future accidents.