Major fire in Mumbai building; 1 dead, 6 suffer from suffocation, injuries

16:33 October 13

A 22-year-old man died and six others suffered from suffocation and other injuries after a massive fire broke out in a five-storey commercial building in south Mumbai's Grant Road area on Sunday morning, officials said. 

Around eight to ten people were also rescued from the building, they said.

The fire brigade got a call about the blaze in 'Aditya Arcade' building around 6 AM. 

The blaze engulfed the building's electric duct passing through its staircase, stalls and offices situated in the basement, ground and first floors, they said.

A person, identified as Uttam Kumar, was found unconscious in the common passage near the staircase and was rushed to the nearby civic-run Nair Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival, a fire brigade official said.

Kumar seemed to have got trapped in the common passage while trying to escape as the fire engulfed the electric duct from the basement to upper floors by then, he said.

"Besides, five persons, including a fireman, suffered from suffocation, while one fireman received injuries on his hand during the rescue operation," he said.

Of these six, three persons - Dilip Choudhary (40), Ashok Choudhary (23) and Bharat Choudhary (23) - were rushed to the state-run JJ Hospital after they complained of suffocation.

"Their condition is reported to be stable," he said.          

"Fireman Sudhan Gore also suffered from suffocation and dehydration, while fireman Nandkumar Wayal received cut injuries on his left hand. They were sent to Nair Hospital for further treatment," chief fire officer PS Rahangdale said.

"The fire was first reported at 6.06 AM. It was a level-4 fire. The flames have been brought under control and rescue operation is underway," he said.

Since the smoke and heat made the rescue operations difficult, the fire brigade used battery-operated tools bought recently from Israel to cut windows and grills to get inside,
the official said.

Thermal imaging cameras were also being used to locate the flames, he said.

The firefighting operations involved 150 personnel, 16 engines, 70 breathing apparatus sets, 10 jumbo tankers, besides several types of ladders which helped in rescuing eight to ten people from the building, another official said.

07:16 October 13

A level-4 fire breaks out at a residential building in Maharashtra's Mumbai

Mumbai: A major fire broke out in a five-storey residential building in Grant Road area here on Sunday. 

The fire brigade got a call about the blaze in 'Aditya Arcade' building around 6 am following which its team along with local police and ambulances rushed to the spot.

Five people, including a fireman, suffered from suffocation while one fire-fighter received injuries on his hand after a blaze broke out in a commercial building in Grant Road area, officials said.

As the blaze erupted, thick smoke engulfed the premises. Some of those present there complained of suffocation after they inhaled the smoke, a fire brigade official said.

The fire engulfed the ground and first floors of the building, he said, adding that 10 fire engines, 15 water tankers, 10 jumbo tankers, four quick response vehicles, a rescue van and two turn-table ladders were pressed into service.

"Five persons, including a fireman, suffered from suffocation, while one fireman received injuries on his hand during the rescue operation. All the six were rushed to hospitals," he said.

Of these six, three persons - Dilip Choudhary (40), Ashok Choudhary (23) and Bharat Choudhary (23) - were rushed to the state-run J J Hospital after they complained of suffocation.

"Their condition is reported to be stable," he said.

Besides, one person, who was earlier reported missing, was found unconscious on the fourth floor. He was also rescued and sent to the J J Hospital, the official said.

"Fireman Sudhan Gore also suffered from suffocation and dehydration, while fireman Nandkumar Wayal received cut injuries on his left hand. They were sent to Nair Hospital for further treatment," chief fire officer P S Rahangdale said.

"The fire was first reported at 6.06 am. It was a level-4 fire. The flames have been brought under control and rescue operation is underway. No death has been reported till now," he said.

Since the smoke and heat made the rescue operations difficult, the fire brigade used battery-operated tools to cut windows and grills to get inside, the official said.

Thermal imaging cameras were also being used to locate the flames, he said.

"Till now, more than 60 breathing apparatus have been used. Eight fire-fighting jets are in operation," he added.