Second fire at Krishna Apra Plaza in Sector 18, Noida, erupted around 3:20am Monday at fifth floor godown. Fire caused by short circuit at ground-floor restaurant that spread through electrical wiring shaft to fifth floor. 15 fire tenders brought blaze under control; no casualties reported as nearby shops were shut. Fire gutted godown but did not spread across entire floor of 8-storey building. Building's fire NOC yet to be obtained; maintenance and fire safety work ongoing since April. Building in dispute with builder, delaying safety measures. CFO stated strict action will be taken for continued lapses.

First fire occurred April 1 at 11:27am when first-floor AC unit exploded. Over 70 people rushed to terrace; five jumped from upper floors in panic. One victim died after 19 days of hospitalisation. Work resumed after one-and-a-half months following payment of pending electricity bill; fire department had cut supply due to non-payment.

Occupants Association member noted maintenance work ongoing but fire NOC pending due to builder dispute.

On April 1, fire broke out in the eight-storey Krishna Apra Plaza building in Sector 18, Noida, when an air conditioner unit at a first-floor real estate office exploded at 11:27am. Over 70 people rushed to the terrace; four people jumped from upper floors. Pooja Gupta, 34, employed on the fourth floor, jumped and suffered 40% burn injuries, 12 fractures in both legs, and spinal injury. She died on April 20 after treatment at multiple hospitals. She had been married three years, worked in a private office, and is survived by a two-year-old daughter and husband.

The complex failed to comply with Uttar Pradesh Fire and Emergency Services Rules 2024, which mandate fire safety officers and staff monitor compliance round-the-clock in high-rise buildings. Krishna Apra Plaza had neither a no objection certificate nor applied for one, despite receiving a notice last year. The chief fire officer stated the complex did not follow fire safety norms and had not appointed a designated fire safety officer.

Fire broke out Tuesday morning at Krishna Apra Plaza, an eight-story building in Noida Sector 18, trapping around 300 employees and injuring at least 22.

70% of buildings in Sector 18 market lack necessary fire safety NOCs and violate safety regulations. Last year, legal action taken against 83 building owners for violating fire safety norms under Fire Safety Management Act, with fines totalling Rs 26 lakh.

Fire safety regulations mandate all buildings taller than 15 meters must have functional firefighting equipment inspected and approved by fire department before NOC granted. Staff must be trained in using equipment.

At least five buildings near Krishna Apra Plaza lack fire NOCs, including corporate offices, banks, and mobile phone shops employing hundreds and attracting thousands of visitors daily.

Challenges: fire safety systems unused for extended periods; encroachment by food stalls and shops blocks road access; fire teams may take 10+ minutes to set up equipment and access buildings. Atta Market poses significant risks: narrow bylanes prevent fire truck entry, loosely hung electric wires, narrow staircases, lack of emergency exits, unauthorised parking.

Fire officials requested Noida Authority to build reservoir near Atta Market and install underground water tank with 5 lakh litre capacity, hydrants and pump sets, but received no response. Malls and upscale jewellery stores in area meet fire safety standards.

Krishna Apra Plaza, an 8-storey building in Sector 18, Noida, caught fire on Tuesday. Around 300 people were trapped and 18 were injured. The building did not have a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department. Fire alarms in the building were found to be defunct.