This is an archive article published on October 6, 2023
Seven killed in Goregaon building fire, 69 injured
Blaze broke out in parking, no system for firefighting in building: officials
Written by Nayonika Bose
Mumbai | Updated: October 8, 2023 08:16 PM IST
3 min read
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Six people were killed and 31 injured in a blaze that razed through a seven-storeyed building in Mumbai's Goregaon West early on Friday. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarthy)
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Seven killed in Goregaon building fire, 69 injured
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A MAJOR fire broke out in a seven-storey residential building in Mumbai’s Goregaon West early Friday, killing seven people, including two minors, and injuring 69 people.
According to senior Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the deaths were caused due to smoke inhalation as dense smoke engulfed the building’s corridors as well as the homes.
The fire was reported at 3.01 am in the stilt parking area of Jay Bhavani complex, a Slum Rehabilitation Authority building located near Azad Maidan. It took more than three hours for the fire tenders to control the flames. The fire department is investigating the cause of the fire. Goregaon Additional Fire Divisional Officer Somnath Bhaye said it is suspected to have broken out in a vehicle parked in the stilt area before spreading through the lift. Most of the fatalities have been reported in the first three floors of the building, owing to intensive smoke logging. Bhaye said the building did not have a firefighting system.
“Several vehicles, including three four-wheelers, 40 motorcycles and bicycles had been parked in the stilt area of the building where the fire broke out. A lot of scrap clothes had also been dumped on the ground floor because of which the fire spread,” Bhaye said. “The fire spread from here to the ground floor and then up to the other floors. The building did not have a fire system in place.”
He said most of the residents of the building were sleeping when the fire broke out.
Municipal Commissioner and state-appointed administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal visited Cooper hospital and Jogeshwari’s HBT Trauma Care Centre, where the injured were undergoing treatment, before heading to the spot. He told reporters that the civic body will give a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the dead as well as free medical treatment to the survivors.
“Members of the Waghri community have been rehabilitated in a few flats in this building. They are rag pickers. Their material was stored in the parking area. After the fire broke out, it spread to their material,” he said.
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As senior civic officials maintained that the fire spread owing to the scrap, residents alleged that their bundle of clothes in the basement was not damaged. “The BMC is saying that the fire spread because of the scrap clothes kept in the stilt area. However, the bundle of clothes are intact,” said Sunil Oghania, one of the residents.
Rajesh Akre, Assistant Municipal Commissioner said, “We have rehabilitated the residents in a municipal school for the time being and after electricity is restored we will transfer them back to the building.”
PM Narendra Modi announced Rs 2 lakh compensation for the families of those dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Nayonika Bose is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau. While in the early stages of her career, her focused reporting on local governance and community welfare already demonstrates clear Expertise and Trustworthiness in covering essential civic issues impacting Mumbai's residents.
Expertise & Authority (E-E-A-T)
Specialized Focus: Nayonika's reporting is dedicated to civic and community issues, providing readers with highly relevant, ground-level information about the functionality and administration of India's largest metropolitan area.
Core Coverage Areas: Her articles highlight a strong focus on the fundamental quality of life and public safety in Mumbai, including:
Civic Infrastructure: Reports on critical failures and initiatives related to public works, such as the recurring problem of unauthorized building collapses in Navi Mumbai, the construction of new infrastructure projects (like the Dahisar-Bhayandar Link Road and the Mahalaxmi cable-stayed bridge), and the maintenance of essential city services (e.g., manhole cover theft).
Urban Governance & Crisis Management: Provides detailed coverage of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) response to major crises, particularly during the monsoon (e.g., heavy rainfall, water cuts, and public health concerns like dengue and malaria) and large-scale public safety incidents (e.g., the hoarding collapse fallout).
Community Welfare & Rights: Reports on key social issues, including the financial aid scheme for persons with disabilities, the struggles of Mumbai's hawkers protesting eviction drives, and the dangers faced by workers due to the continuation of manual scavenging in water tanks.
Cultural & Heritage Reporting: Covers significant community stories, including the restoration of British-era fountains and the history of institutions like the 126-year-old Chinchpokli cemetery, showing a breadth of interest beyond pure administration.
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