Mumbai fire: 14 killed, 21 injured as birthday bash turns tragic

Mumbai: In a horrific fire incident, 14 people, including 11 women, were killed and 21 injured after a fire broke out in a commercial building at Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel on Thursday midnight. 

Among those killed were Khushbu Bansali, who was celebrating her 29th birthday, and her friends. According to fire officials, the fire first broke out at the roof of the restaurant, 1Above, on the fifth floor at 12.30 am and spread rapidly to an adjoining eatery – Mojo’s Bistro. Fire vehicles reached the spot within 10 minutes.

It took the firemen around three hours to bring the blaze under control. All the victims died due to asphyxiation, while the injured have been admitted to various hospitals for treatment.

In an attempt to save themselves, a majority of the people tried to take shelter in a washroom at 1Above. But the decision proved fatal as they were trapped inside and died due to suffocation, said an eyewitness.

“My sister Preeti Rajgariya, 48, was there to have dinner with her daughter Ruchi. They started rushing out when they got to know of the fire, but got separated. Her daughter ran down the staircase, but my sister was stuck in the washroom and died of suffocation,” the victim’s brother Ajay Agarwal told a TV channel.

Short circuit may have led to massive fire
Though the fire officials said the cause of the fire was unknown, a short circuit at the restaurant is being suspected as the cause for the blaze. Fire officials said the fire fighting system of the entire building was found to be not working.

“The fire system was dysfunctional. We had issued fire NoC to 1Above, while that of Mojo’s Brito has to be ascertained. But we found hookah accessories in 1Above, which is illegal. The top portion of the rooftop of both restaurants was covered illegal,” said Kailash Hivrale, deputy chief fire officer of Mumbai Fire Brigade.