Eight persons were charred to death when a blaze broke out in a hotel in suburban Kurla today, police said.
Police denied earlier reports that explosion of a gas cylinder caused the mishap at Hotel Kinara in Kurla (W) at around 1 PM.
"Short circuit appears to be the cause behind the incident...There was no explosion," said DCP (Detection) Dhananjay Kulkarni.
Police are trying to ascertain the identity of the deceased amid reports that five students of Don Bosco School could be among victims as they are missing since afternoon and bike of one of them found parked outside the hotel.
"Bodies were sent to Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar (E)," said DCP (Zone V) Mahesh Patil.
Meanwhile, parents of the missing students have reached the hospital.
The police as well as fire brigade are probing the case.
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