Ghatkopar building blaze claims one

The fire erupted inside the common meter box of Vishwash Building at 2.08 pm. The seven-storeyed building, located near the Ghatkopar station, has a restaurant on the ground floor and several offices on the floors above. A hospital is located behind the building.

Vishwash Building after the fire. Express

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

ONE PERSON was killed and 12 others sustained injuries, including four policemen, in a fire that broke out in a commercial building in Ghatkopar.

The fire erupted inside the common meter box of Vishwash Building at 2.08 pm. The seven-storeyed building, located near the Ghatkopar station, has a restaurant on the ground floor and several offices on the floors above. A hospital is located behind the building.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade deployed five fire engines and four jumbo tankers for firefighting operations. The flames were doused at 4.05 pm.

“The fire didn’t spread… It was mainly due to the smoke that people suffered. The fire originated inside the common meter room on the ground floor, and as there were combustible materials like unused clothes and furniture in the room, the flames and smoke intensified and spread to the nearby buildings,” said Sanjay Manjrekar, Chief Fire Officer (CFO). “The fire might have occurred due to a shock circuit as witnesses noticed sparks from the room.”

Sanjay Sonawane, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, under whose jurisdiction the incident spot falls, said that most of the injured were patrons visiting a restaurant. The rest were staffers from offices and students who had come for private tuition, which was in progress on the top floor of an adjoining building.

“There was a hospital just adjacent the building… there was a common staircase in the middle of the two structures. Above the staircase, there were electrical wires and ducts, from where sparks were reported. It could be one of the reasons that led to the fire breaking out inside the metre room,” Sonawane said.

“While all were evacuated from the building, the deceased was a staffer in a office,” he said.

Story continues below this ad

Identified as Korshi Dedhia (46), he was brought to the Rajawadi Hospital where he was declared brought dead. Policemen Jay Yadav (51), Sanjay Tadavi (40), Prabhu Swami (38) and Nitin Visavkar (35) inhaled smoke and were hospitalised.

Among the other injured, a 30-year-old man is admitted in the ICU and is said to be critical. Most of the injured suffered from asphyxiation due to inhalation of smoke, while one also sustained 20 per cent burns.

Pratip Acharya

Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India. Expertise & Authority Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai. Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in: Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting. City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region. Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis: National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019. State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019. Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis. Experience Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies: Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014). Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express. Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram