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.A team of firefighters from Lakadganj fire station, led by station in charge officer Prakash Kawadkar, rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. Firefighters had to make considerable efforts to extinguish the fire, which broke out in the closed cold storage facility.The preliminary report suggests that a short circuit in an ice cream-making machine may have triggered the blaze. No casualties were reported.The Mohikar family resides on the first floor of the building, while the ground floor and parking area are being used for operating a cold storage facility and ice cream factory.The incident has also brought the legality and safety of running such a factory in a residential locality under scrutiny.Lakadganj fire station officer Prakash Kawadkar said the cold storage and ice cream factory appeared to be operating without the required permission from the fire department. A notice would be issued to Ashish Mohikar within two days, seeking documents related to the sanctioned building plan and permissions for operating the factory.The fire department would also inform Lakadganj zone officials and direct them to take action against any unauthorised construction or encroachment, Kawadkar said.Officials are expected to examine whether the building’s approved use permits the operation of a cold storage and ice cream manufacturing unit, besides checking compliance with fire safety requirements.
