'Paudhon mein paani de rahe hain': Noida Ivy County video sparks debate as fire brigade water reaches only 6th floor during 12th-floor fire

A dramatic video from a high-rise fire in Sector 75 has gone viral, triggering sharp criticism and widespread anger over the preparedness of fire services in Noida’s growing skyline. The clip, showing firefighters’ water jets falling far short of the flames, has become the talking point of the day with many sarcastically commenting, “Paudhon mein paani de rahe hain.”

Noida Ivy County Fire

A major fire broke out in one of the apartments at Ivy County housing society in Noida’s Sector 75 on Friday morning. Fortunately, no casualties was reported. The fire broke out around 8 AM on the 12th floor of the 28-storey Ivy County apartment tower. Thick black smoke billowed out as flames rapidly engulfed a flat, apparently starting from the balcony area. The Noida fire incident comes just two days after the tragic fire at a hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, which claimed 21 lives, including nine foreign nationals.

Residents captures the chaotic moment

Residents captured the chaotic scenes on their phones, showing firefighters on the ground desperately trying to douse the fire. However, the powerful hoses could barely reach beyond the sixth floor, leaving the actual seat of the fire untouched for a worrying stretch of time. One widely shared video shows water arcs dramatically falling short while flames and smoke continue to pour out from the upper floors. The mismatch between the towering building and the reach of the equipment has left netizens stunned. “Yeh hai hamara infrastructure. Paudho ko bas pani de rhe hain” asked one user, summing up the public mood.

Noida Fire Incident Sparks Fire Safety Debate

The incident has ignited a fierce debate on whether Noida’s fire infrastructure is equipped to handle the city’s mushrooming high-rises. Many pointed out that while builders continue to construct taller and taller towers, basic firefighting capabilities have not kept up. Questions are also being raised about the effectiveness of internal fire safety systems in the building, including wet risers, sprinklers, and regular maintenance checks.

This episode has once again highlighted a growing concern across urban India. As cities like Noida, Gurugram, and Greater Noida see an explosion of high-rise residential projects, outdated fire equipment and inadequate training could turn minor incidents into major tragedies.

Noida's tallest fire ladder can reach only 14 floors

Noida's rapidly growing skyline is increasingly dominated by high-rise residential towers, but the city's firefighting infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. Despite having more than 1,500 buildings taller than eight floors and over 1,000 mid-rise structures, the Gautam Budh Nagar Fire Department currently operates only four hydraulic platforms. The tallest among them can reach approximately 42 metres, equivalent to around 14 floors, raising concerns about the city's ability to respond effectively to emergencies in taller buildings.

Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Chaubey recently said the department currently has four hydraulic platforms, with the tallest reaching about 42 metres. He added that a 72-metre platform has already been approved and is expected to be delivered within the next one or two months.