17 injured, 150 huts gutted in Mumbai slum fire

Seventeen people sustained burns and around 150 huts were gutted in a major fire that engulfed a slum near Bandra station here, officials said Thursday.

The fire, which started around 2.30 a.m., quickly spread to adjoining slums in the congested Shastri Nagar slum colony, catching people unawares in their sleep, according to the BMC Disaster Control room.

However, local youth immediately raised an alarm and helped evacuate the people and their belongings quickly to safer spots.

As the flames spread, several gas cylinders also caught fire and started exploding, adding to the blaze and the damage.

Ten fire tenders rushed to the spot and finally doused the fire by 6 a.m. The cause of the fire is being investigated, the officials said.

Of the 17 injured, 14 were discharged after treatment for minor burns while three victims have been admitted to the Bhabha Hospital in Bandra.