Vetal Tekdi: Students spark outrage by lighting bonfire

A group of college students triggered outrage among citizens and environmentalists after lighting a bonfire to cook Maggi noodles on Vetal Tekdi near Kothrud. A photograph of the incident went viral on social media, sparking sharp criticism for the students' careless behaviour amid high fire risk on the dry, grassy hill.

- Staff Reporter

With the rainy season now over, Pune's surrounding hills and forests have become increasingly vulnerable to fires. Despite repeated warnings and ongoing conservation efforts, some students, allegedly from outside the city, reportedly treated the area like a picnic spot and lit a bonfire.