Day after Kandivali residential building blaze killed 2, no action; fire brigade yet to submit report

Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior MFB official said that while their investigation is underway, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. “The fire broke out in the kitchen of one of the 2-BHK flats on the first floor of the building. We have been conducting an inquiry but are yet to determine the exact source of the fire… We plan to submit a detailed report by tomorrow (Wednesday),” said the official, requesting anonymity.

Even as officials told The Indian Express on Monday that the building did not have a functional fire fighting system, civic officials maintained that no notices have been issued to the building yet. Assistant municipal commissioner Sandhya Nandedkar said, “The fire officials are still investigating and are yet to determine the cause of the fire. We have not issued notices to the building yet. Once the MFB submits its report, we will examine the findings and decide our next course of action.”

Citing their findings, the MFB official said, “The fire erupted on the first floor. We found that the flat in which the fire broke out had been done up with interiors worth Rs 20- 25 lakh. Most of the interiors and decoration, including the modular kitchen, was done in plywood and medium-density fibre (MDF). Even the walls of the flat had been panelled with plywood. Since the material were not fire rated, the flames easily spread.”

The official added that after the fire outbreak, the members of the family escaped from the flat without shutting the door that led to the fire and smoke spread.

According to MFB officials, while the fire erupted on the first floor, most injuries were reported on the fourth floor of the building, where the Valhaty family, who lost two members, stayed. “Since the door remained open and the building had open type staircase, the smoke and fire spread to the upper floors.”