Pune: The fire department, along with the civic administration’s encroachment and building departments, on Friday sealed 11 paying guest (PG) accommodations and hostels in Lohegaon area for failing to comply with fire safety norms. The owners and operators of these establishments also failed to produce valid building permissions and water supply documentation.Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has given the establishments seven days to comply with fire safety regulations and produce the relevant records.The inspections were launched against the backdrop of recent fatal fires at PG accommodations and private coaching centres in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Amravati. Officials said the safety drive will soon be extended to other parts of the city.During Friday’s operations, which covered areas like Lohegaon and Nimbalkarnagar, inspecting teams found over 100 students residing in three-to four-storey buildings. None of these structures had any firefighting provisions, prompting immediate enforcement action.Beyond private PGs and hostels, the administration plans to conduct a safety audit of hostels attached to local schools and colleges. Officials added that municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has ordered a severe intensification of the citywide drive, directing teams to initiate immediate action against any establishment found flouting safety laws.
