6 killed, 23 injured as fire breaks out in Mumbai building; PM announces ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh

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Mumbai Fire Updates: At least six persons were killed and 23 others injured in a major fire that broke out on the 18th floor of a residential building in the Tardeo area of central Mumbai on Saturday morning.

The blaze erupted around 7 am in Sachinam Heights building located opposite Bhatia Hospital at Gowalia Tank when many of its residents were still asleep, the official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each for the kin of those killed in the incident, and of Rs. 50,000 each for those injured.

Meanwhile, the state government of Maharashtra has announced an ex gratia amount of Rs 5 lakhs to the families of victims who lost their lives in the fire incident, said, minister Aaditya Thackeray.

On being alerted, 13 fire engines and seven water jetties were rushed to the building to douse the fire, which was tagged as level-3 (major). At present, the firefighters covered the blaze from all sides, BMC officials said.

Seven of the injured were taken to the BMC-run Nair Hospital, where five died, while one more succumbed to injuries at the civic-run Kasturba Hospital, he said, adding 17 injured were admitted to Bhatia Hospital, where five were discharged following treatment, while three of the 12, currently undergoing treatment there, are in a critical condition.

One person was admitted to Masina Hospital and the patient's condition is stable, another one who was admitted to Wockhardt Hospital was discharged. One more patient, who was admitted to H N Reliance Hospital, was also discharged, the official said.

Doctors at the Nair Hospital said that two of them were brought dead, while the condition of the remaining two is stable and they are being treated," BM official said.

Doctors at the Bhatia Hospital said that of the 15 injured persons who were brought there, 12 have been admitted to the general ward. The condition of three others is critical and they are being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU), he added.

According to the fire department, the blaze was declared level 3 at 8.10 am. 13 fire engines were rushed to the spot. Officials said the fire is being doused and is under control. 

"It is a ground plus 20-story building. The fire broke out on its 18th floor. On being alerted, the fire brigade personnel and police rushed to the spot. Thirteen fire engines, seven water jetties, among others, are involved in the firefighting operation," the official of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.

BMC mayor Kishori Pednekar, who was present at the location, told media persons that no other person is stuck in the building.

"Six old age people needed oxygen support system and have been shifted to the hospital. Fire flame is under control but smoke is huge. All people have been rescued," Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said that he is in constant touch with the authorities.

"In touch with the authorities regarding the fire outbreak at the Kamala building in Tardeo. The fire brigade and the police are on site. Rescue and cooling operations are underway," tweeted Thackeray today.

Maharashtra BJP president and MLA, Mangal Prabhat Lodha said it was an "unfortunate incident." 

BMC official added that according to some residents, the power supply in the building went off after the fire. Many of the residents of the building were asleep when the fire broke out.

"The fire incident that occurred at the Kamala building in Mumbai's Tardeo area will be investigated. Our guardian minister of Mumbai Suburban Aaditya Thackeray and Mumbai City guardian minister Aslam Shaikh will look into it,"  said Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis alleged that nearby hospitals refused to admit the injured persons, which he said resulted in "more deaths", and sought action against those responsible for the fatalities.

Talking about the incident, the civic official said, "It is a ground plus 20-storey building. The fire broke out on its 19th floor. On being alerted, the fire brigade personnel and police rushed the spot. Several persons were rescued, of them 29 were taken to different nearby hospitals as some of them were injured, while others complained of health problems, like suffocation."

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