A devastating fire swept through the Gaondevi Vegetable Market in the early hours of Thursday, killing a firefighter and a security guard while triggering a large-scale emergency response in Thane.
Officials said the blaze erupted before dawn inside the crowded market complex located on Gokhale Road, an area packed with vegetable vendors, garment shops and storage units. Within minutes, flames engulfed several sections of the structure, sending massive plumes of smoke across the locality and creating panic among nearby residents and shopkeepers.
The emergency alert was reportedly received by the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane Municipal Corporation shortly before 4 am. Multiple fire engines, rescue teams, water tankers and emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the site as authorities launched an extensive firefighting operation.
During the rescue efforts, a fire brigade personnel and a security guard lost their lives. Officials have not yet released detailed information regarding the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Firefighters battled the flames for several hours as teams worked to stop the fire from spreading to nearby buildings and commercial establishments in the densely populated market area. Cooling operations continued through the morning even after the major flames were brought under control.
Authorities said the exact cause of the fire remains unknown and a detailed investigation will begin once the site is declared safe for inspection by technical teams and forensic experts.
The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety preparedness in crowded commercial zones across the Mumbai metropolitan region. The tragedy comes only days after another major fire incident was reported in Thane West, where a cardboard warehouse and adjoining garage in the Kolshet area caught fire near Pipeline Road.
That earlier blaze had prompted the deployment of multiple firefighting units, though no casualties were reported in the incident.
Officials are now expected to examine whether safety violations, electrical faults or storage conditions contributed to the latest market fire, which has become one of the deadliest fire incidents reported in Thane in recent months.
