14 Killed in Midnight Blaze at Rooftop Restaurant in Mumbai
MUMBAI : At least 14 people were killed and 21 persons injured after a major fire in a building in Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel. Most of the casualties were women who were attending a birthday party.
The Above pub, located on the third floor of the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound , a commercial hub of the city,” a police official said.
The fire broke out around 12:30am. The massive fire quickly engulfed the entire building after it started at ‘1 Above’, a rooftop pub and raged for several hours before it could be brought under control.
Police have booked Hratesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Manka of C Grade Hospitality, which manages the pub, along with others .The BMC has suspended five of its officials so far.
“The fire brigade rescued at least 35 injured persons, who were trapped inside the hotel. They were shifted to a hospital,” police said.The injured were taken to the KEM and Sion hospitals on Friday morning, an official from the BMC disaster management unit said.”
All the 12 injured are now out of danger,” said Avinash Supe, Dean of KEM Hospital. Doctors at KEM said those admitted at the hospital are stable and either shifted to private hospitals or discharged after primary treatment.
Police said, most of the deceased were women who were attending a birthday party at a restaurant here. They died of suffocation as they tried to escape the fire and entered a men’s restroom where there was no ventilation. The 28-year-old woman celebrating her birthday was among those who died. Locals and rescuers have alleged negligence on part of these restaurant owners.
It is being further alleged that there was only one entry and exit point at the Kamala Mills Compound, which could have trapped the victims at the building complex amid the raging fire. This single narrow exit point at the building complex proved to be a hindrance for the firefighters too, who still managed to rescue over 100 people from the building complex.
The campus of Kamla Mills also accommodates offices of various news and entertainment channels including the Times Network (Times Now, Mirror Now, ET Now, Zoom and Tv9).
President Ram Nath Kovind too condoled the incident and tweeted: “Disturbing news about the fire in Mumbai. Condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured an early recovery.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed anguish over the loss of lives in the fire.“Anguished by the fire in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray that those injured recover quickly,” the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted.
Eyewitnesses, including several journalists working in media organisations situated in the same compound, said the fire spread fast and affected two adjoining diner-cum-pubs.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his grief over the incident and ordered an in-depth enquiry. “Disturbing to know about the unfortunate incident. My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Directed the BMC Commissioner to conduct an in-depth enquiry,” he said in a tweet.(With Agency Inputs ).
