Fire breaks out in 4-storey building in Mumbai’s Colaba, 1 killed, 2 injured, 15 rescued

The fire was declared as level 2 and four fire engines, four jumbo tankers and an ambulance arrived at the spot by 12.25 pm. The fire was brought under control by 3.25 pm. The building is a residential-cum-commercial structure, with an art gallery on the first floor.

According to fire officials, the fire was confined to electrical wiring, electrical installation, furniture and household articles in a residential flat on the third floor, the loft and staircase of the second floor. Due to smoke and intense heat, nearly 15 people in the building were trapped.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. (Express photo: Zeeshan Shaikh)

“Out of them, five were rescued in a suffocated state from the loft of the third floor and were given first aid. Five persons were rescued with ladders while the rest were brought down through the staircase,” said Chief Fire Officer P S Rahangdale. “As per our information, the deceased, Shyam Aiyer, went inside his third-floor flat to extinguish the blaze but got trapped before the fire brigade arrived. During the search, he was found with critical burns,” he added.

Aiyar was taken to Gokuldas Tejpal hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. Aiyar was a financial consultant. “While his relatives are in the US, his son is in the UK. They are expected to arrive by tomorrow,” said a friend at the hospital. “Aiyar’s death was caused by shock due to burns. A detailed report is expected by tomorrow. The police have submitted a request that the body be kept in the mortuary for two days till his relatives arrive,” said GT hospital superintendent Anant Shingare.

Those injured are 43-year-old Yusuf Punawala, a first floor resident, who was admitted to Bombay hospital. Fireman Bhurmal Santosh Patil from Mandvi fire station suffered suffocation due to smoke and was treated in the ambulance.

“As the building was old and has a narrow staircase, fire fighting was difficult. As it was a Sunday and the windows were without grills, the fire fighters were able to reach the spot and got access to the building swiftly. Heritage buildings, due to extensive use of wood and old construction, is always challenging for fire fighters in rescue operations,” Rahangdale said.

DCP (zone 1) Sangramsingh Nishandar said that an accidental death report had been taken in the matter and they were investigating the case.

A senior official from MHADA repair and reconstruction board said, “MHADA only looks after the structural audit and maintenance of the building. As the said building is a heritage building, we have to follow the heritage suggestions before doing structural audit.”