A devastating fire that broke out on October 1, 2025 at the Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) warehouse in Bhiwandi, near Mumbai, continued to burn through October 3 as firefighters battled to control the blaze. Preliminary investigations suggested an electrical short circuit as the likely cause. By the time the fire was fully extinguished on October 5, approximately 600,000 books from the ACK and its sister publication Tinkle, along with special edition box sets and merchandise, had been destroyed.

Among the most irreplaceable losses were over 200 original hand-drawn film positives from the 1960s and 1970s — transparent line-art illustrations that formed the visual foundation of ACK's iconic graphic style. Founded by Anant Pai (Uncle Pai) in 1967, Amar Chitra Katha has been instrumental in bringing Indian mythology, history, and culture to generations of children through its comic book format. While many artworks had been digitally archived, their physical destruction eliminates the possibility of future exhibitions using original media. The event raised serious concerns about fire safety and preservation protocols for India's literary and cultural heritage institutions.