Nearly 100 shanties gutted in blaze at Dharavi’s Kamala Nagar

The blaze was labelled as level-3 at 5.20 am, after the flames intensified.

Twelve fire engines and eight jumbo tankers were pressed into operation by the Mumbai Fire Brigade and the flames were extinguished around 11.50 am, after a fire-fighting operation that lasted for more than seven hours.

Fire Brigade officials said the flames were confined within the shanties and no injuries were reported. However, officials said there was huge loss of property and personal belongings of slum residents.

“Since the shanties are located in close proximity, the flames spread quickly. Also, the presence of combustible items like plastics and tarpaulin sheets led to the spread of flames,” said an official.

Fire Brigade officials said the locality where the incident took place is extremely congested, with several two and three-storey structures which are being used as storage rooms for clothing material, as well as a garment factory. Tangled electrical wires hanging haphazardly at the spot intensified the flames, said officials.

“The gutted properties included offices of self-help groups from where women used to operate tailoring and sewing businesses. Since it was early morning, there was nobody in these offices, which eventually averted loss of any lives. The flames might have originated from a short circuit; however, the actual cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained,” said the official.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Traffic Police implemented a diversion near Dharavi due to the fire.

“… The 90-feet road has been closed and traffic has been diverted to Santh Rohidas Marg. Instead of going to the 60-feet road from T junction, traffic has been diverted to Raheja Mahim,” said Mumbai Traffic Police in an official tweet.