After Thane market fire, Shinde orders fire-structural audits of such civic-run establishments

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered fire and structural audits of markets after a massive blaze at Gamdevi vegetable market complex in Thane resulted in two deaths and 155 stalls being gutted.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered fire and structural audits of all markets owned by the civic corporation following a massive blaze at Gamdevi vegetable market complex in the early hours of Thursday in Thane resulted in two deaths and 155 stalls getting gutted.

After inspecting the site, Shinde said measures need to be taken to ensure such incidents do not not recur.

''I have talked to the chief minister this morning regarding the losses suffered by the 155 stall owners. The government will give them assistance from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. The stall owners have lost everything,'' he told reporters.

''The Thane Municipal Corporation has been ordered to take up on priority the renovation work of the entire market and make it available within the next ten days,'' he said.

Issues related to shortage of firefighting staff will be resolved after discussions with the TMC commissioner, Shinde added.