As the fire spread, Mumbai Fire Brigade rescued over 36 residents from the building, of which 19 were injured. One woman was killed while some are in critical condition.
A 75-year-old woman died and at least 45 others were injured after a fire broke out at a residential high-rise in Mumbai’s Dahisar East on Sunday afternoon.
The fire was reported at 3.05 pm at the New Jankalyan Society situated in Shanti Nagar along S V Road.
According to officials, the 23-storey building is a newly constructed Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) structure, which was currently partially occupied till the eighteenth floor.
The fire broke out in the basement and spread through the electrical duct and wiring up to the third floor.
Even as the blaze remained confined to the lower floors, the smoke logged up until the 23rd floor.
Senior officials from Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) said that a preliminary probe points to a short circuit in the electrical unit as the cause of the fire.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Deepak Ghosh, MFB’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer in Region 4, said that one senior citizen was killed in the blaze, while at least 45 people sustained minor injuries.
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“A 75-year-old woman was killed in the fire as she tried to escape from her home to the upper floors where there was intensive heating and smoke, which she inhaled. We rescued her and shifted her to the hospital, where she was declared dead,” said Ghosh.
“We safely rescued at least 36 other people from the building of which, initially, we sent at least eight people to the hospital. However, many people sustained minor injuries owing to inhalation of smoke and as they reported to several hospitals, the tally of injured rose to 45 by Sunday night,” Ghosh told The Indian Express.
The injured were admitted across four different hospitals including the privately-run Rohit hospital, Northern Care hospital, Pragati hospital, as well as the civic-run Shatabdi hospital in Kandivali.
The identity of the victims is yet to be ascertained by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
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While officials maintained that the building had obtained Fire NOC, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) is set to launch an investigation on Monday to determine whether the systems were compliant.
The blaze on Sunday was extinguished by 6.10 pm.
In a bid to aid the rescue operations, the MFB deployed at least eight fire engines, eight jumbo tankers, two special devices like ladders, hydraulic platforms as well as one breathing apparatus on the site.
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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