Nagpur: A fire broke out at an ice cream factory operating from a house near Kavelu Quarters in Sadbhavana Nagar, Nandanvan, on early Monday morning, raising questions over the operation of an industrial unit in a residential area.
The incident occurred around 6am at a two-storey building owned by Ashish Mohikar on plot number 129, near Sai temple. The fire gutted six cold storage machines, cables, and other material. Neighbours spotted smoke and flames emerging from the premises and alerted the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) control room. The incident has also brought the legality and safety of running such a factory in a residential locality under scrutiny.
Fire Department Investigates Unauthorized Cold Storage Operations
A fire broke out in a closed cold storage facility located on the ground floor of a building in Lakadganj, where the Mohikar family resides on the first floor. Firefighters from the Lakadganj fire station, led by Officer Prakash Kawadkar, quickly responded to the incident and managed to bring the blaze under control after considerable effort.
Kawadkar noted that the cold storage and ice cream factory appeared to be operating without the necessary permissions from the fire department. Within two days, a notice will be issued to Ashish Mohikar, requesting documentation related to the sanctioned building plan and any required operational permits.
Additionally, the fire department plans to notify Lakadganj zone officials to investigate potential unauthorized construction or encroachment. The officials will assess whether the building’s approved use allows for a cold storage and ice cream manufacturing unit, alongside evaluating compliance with fire safety regulations.