MUMBAI: Two women died after a massive fire broke out in a 14-storey residential building in Nalasopara East late on Tuesday night. Around 25 residents were rescued, including a family of four who had climbed onto a ledge between the 12th and 13th floors to escape the flames and smoke, officials said.
Residents alleged that the building’s firefighting system was not operational despite repeated complaints to the developer. The Achole police have registered an accidental death report and are recording statements of residents and witnesses. They are awaiting the fire brigade’s report to establish the cause of the blaze.
The fire broke out around 11.30 pm on Tuesday in the B wing of Imperial Heritage on the Nalasopara-Vasai Link Road, and took nearly six hours to extinguish, officials said.
Police said they would also question the developer over the alleged failure to hand over the society’s affairs to residents and maintain the firefighting system.
Fire brigade officials suspect that a short circuit in an electrical meter box on the ground floor triggered further short circuits on the upper floors, eventually causing a fire on the 13th floor. The exact cause is yet to be established. All six were subsequently discharged. In a dramatic rescue, firefighters safely evacuated four members of a family who had climbed onto a ledge between the 12th and 13th floors.
Firefighters, assisted by local residents, evacuated around 25 people, six of whom were hospitalised after inhaling smoke. When contacted, Rohan More, chief fire officer, said the fire brigade had inspected the premises in 2019 when the Occupancy Certificate (OC) was issued for the building.
The fire brigade was alerted soon after the blaze was spotted, according to residents. “They climbed onto the ledge to save themselves from the fire and were stuck there for over half an hour before being rescued,” said Lalit Dubey, a resident. “All the fire safety measures were put in place, but it is for the builder and society members to ensure that they are operational and usable during an emergency like this,” he said.
The probe will also examine the building’s construction permissions, fire safety approvals, the condition of firefighting systems and the possibility of a short circuit in the electrical panel.
Prithviraj said that a detailed investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the fire. “Appropriate action will be taken if any negligence or safety deficiencies are found,” he said.
