A fire department personnel maintains records as charred vehicles are seen after a fire broke out in a multi-storey residential building in Goregaon area Mumbai, early Friday.
Credit: PTI Photo
At least seven people were killed and 60 others were injured after a fire razed through a residential building at the Goregaon suburbs of Mumbai on Friday morning.
At least five of those injured are critical.
The Jai Bhawani SRA Building - a ground-plus-seven structure - is located off the Mahatma Gandhi Road near the Azad Maidan at Goregaon West.
The building is part of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).
The fire was reported around 0300 hrs.
Mumbai civic, police and fire brigade officials are at the spot conducting fire-fighting and rescue operations.
"The fire was confined to ground floor shops, scrap materials, parked vehicles, vehicles because of which people were stranded in various floors," officials of Disaster Management Unit of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation said.
According to latest reports, 68 persons were rescued and rushed to Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital and private hospitals including Lifeline Medical Hospital, Matoshree Gomati Hospital and Suvidha Hospital.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Reports said that the fire started from the parking lot - damaging several two-wheelers and cars - and spread to other parts.
The Maharashtra government has announced a probe into the incident and the investigators will submit a report in a fortnight’s time.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased, while the government will bear the medical expenses of those injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF, while those injured will be given Rs 50,000 each. “Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Mumbai's Goregaon. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected,” Modi said.
An eyewitness, Manish Chaturvedi, said: "The incident occurred 2.30 am-3 am. I had returned from a party around 1.30 am and was sleeping. Suddenly, around 2.45 am I could sense a burning smell in the air. I woke up and first searched my room. I then woke my brother up. We then saw the smoke rising.We then called up the fire brigade…the situation was heart-rending”.