Mumbai: 7 Charred to Death in Grocery Shop Fire; CM Shinde Visits Spot, Assures Probe

The incident, which broke out in a grocery shop due to alleged short circuit in Mumbai's Chembur East, claimed several lives including toddlers.

Mumbai (Maharashtra):Five members of a family, including two toddlers aged seven and 10 years died in a fire that broke out in a grocery shop in Mumbai's Chembur suburb, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC's) Disaster Control said here on Sunday.

The victims have been identified as Paris Gupta (7), Narendra Gupta (10), Manju Prem Gupta (30), Prem Gupta (30), Anita Gupta (30), Vidhi Chediram Gupta (15) and Gitadevi Dharamdev Gupta (60). They were all in deep sleep and did not notice the fire.

The incident took place at 5.30 am at Siddharth Colony along Chembur East’s AN Gaikwad Marg. As per the preliminary investigation, the fire broke out due to a short circuit, the BMC said. The building had a shop on the ground floor and the upper one served as a residential unit.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the loss of lives and assured a high-level probe into the incident. He also announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased.

The fire department received a call at around 5.30 am following which they rushed to the spot and doused the flames. The BMC said that the fire was of level one type and was confined to electric wiring and electric installation of the shop that later spread to other household appliances.

Four fire engines, a water tanker, and senior officials of the Mumbai Fire Brigade and BMC were at the site monitoring the firefighting operations this morning. The victims were taken to the state-run Rajawadi Hospital, where they were declared dead, BMC officials said.

Two others suffered injuries and have been admitted to hospital for treatment. Locals said that they made frantic efforts to save the Gupta family trapped there but they couldn't succeed. A senior police official said that they are investigating the case with forensic aid.

This is not the first case of a massive fire in Mumbai. On Saturday, a massive fire burnt to ashes an entire warehouse in adjoining Thane district. The V Logistics warehouse in a village in Bhiwandi taluka, about 40 km from Mumbai, caught fire late on Friday night.

Rs 5 lakhs compensation: Chief Minister Eknath Shinde accompanied by former MP Rahul Shewale and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale visited the spot and enquired about how the fire started and what caused it. Locals told him that the fire started due to kerosene flare up. CM Eknath Shinde said that the government stands firmly behind the Gupta family and those who are injured will be given treatment. Also, CM Shinde announced an assistance of five lakhs to the kin of each deceased.

High-level inquiry: The CM said that unfortunately, a mountain of grief has befallen on one family and the government will strive to prevent such incidents from happening. He has assured that the fire mishap will also be investigated at a high level.