Major fire breaks out at mall in Bandra, several shops gutted

According to preliminary reports, the fire was reported at 4.11 am at the Croma showroom inside the basement of the Link Square mall along the Linking road number 33 in Bandra West.

Housing parking spaces in the basement and over 200 shops, the commercial building comprises three levels of basement and three upper floors. Soon, the smoke and flames raced from the basement through the floors, leaving the entire structure engulfed with fire. Data showed that the blaze escalated rapidly with the fire brigade declaring the blaze as level 1 at 4.17 am, followed by a Level 2 upgrade at 4.28 am, level 3 at 4.49 am, and then as level 4 at 6.25 am.

As the massive fire left plumes of dense smoke billowing across the neighbourhood, the Mumbai Fire Brigade evacuated the adjacent residential building to ensure safety of residents.

Senior officials from the MFB said that it is likely that the blaze erupted much earlier but remained inconspicuous for nearly an hour, until the smoke and flames became evident to the public.

“We received the fire call around 4 am but it is likely that the fire had broken much earlier. People must have noticed it later and reported afterwards. By the time we reached the spot, there was tremendous heat and smoke so it was difficult to curb it immediately,” said an official.

While the civic body had initially pressed 15 jumbo tankers, eight fire engines amongst others, the official added that the number of tankers was increased as the day progresses.

At least 12 lines of 15 motor pumps, of which nine were small hose lines and two high pressure, were also used to douse the flames. A robo device was also deployed to aid in the operations. Meanwhile, in a bid to facilitate ventilation, the firemen resorted to shattering of the structure’s glass facade.

It was in 2009 that the Link Square mall had been established by NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique, said his son and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique, who reached the site of the mishap on Tuesday morning. “Till today, it was one of the best working malls of Linking road,” wrote Siddique on social media.

Speaking to mediapersons, he alleged that the fire spread owing to ineffective fire fighting by the MFB.

Denying the allegation, Ravindra Ambulgekar, chief fire officer (CFO) of the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) said, “There was very intensive heat and dense smoke, making it difficult to determine the entry point. The mall was filled with many objects, further blocking the entry points of the structure.”

According to Ambulegkar, the internal fire fighting system of the building was inoperative during the course of the fire fighting.

While the preliminary reports indicate that the fire broke owing to a short circuit in the basement’s Croma showroom, senior MFB officials maintained that they are yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Responding to questions, Ambulegkar said that they will soon be launching the investigation to determine the irregularities and the exact cause of fire.

Meanwhile, more than twelve hours after the fire was reported, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) managed to cover the flames from all side around 5.24 pm. Owners as well as tenants running small businesses inside the mall, who thronged the mall, said on Tuesday afternoon that they are yet to gauge the extent of their loses.

“This shop was our only source of income. Besides incurring huge losses owing to large quantum of stocks burnt, nearly every shop also employees over 2 – 3 people whose families also depend on their salaries. How will we survive now?,” said Tauseef Shaikh, a tenant who runs a garment shop inside the mall.