Massive fire breaks out at MTNL building in Mumbai, 84 rescued

A massive fire broke out at the nine-storey MTNL building at Bandra today, leaving 84 people stranded on the terrace. 14 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Mumbai:A massive fire broke out Monday in MTNL building here, leaving 84 people stranded on the terrace of the nine-storey structure all of whom were rescued by fire brigade personnel. A firman, Sagar Salve (25), inhaled smoke during firefighting operation following which he was admitted to Bhabha Hospital, an official said.

Armed with searchlights, other equipment and donning fire protection suits, fire brigade personnel searched these floors, the official said.

All the 84 people stranded on the terrace were safely evacuated, he said.

At least 14 fire engines, newly-introduced Robofire, an ambulance, aerial ladders and other firefighting equipment were deployed to douse the flames and rescue people, he said.

Due to strong winds and thick smoke billowing out of the building, fire brigade personnel faced difficulties in dousing the flames, he said, some nearby buildings were also affected.

'Smoke everywhere, could not see the staircase'

A woman who was rescued from the building recounted her ordeal. "The staircase was not visible, because of the heavy smoke. We closed the windows of our office."

'Robofire' in action

Newly introduced robotic machine 'robofire' had been pressed into action during fire-fighting operations at the building. The machine is remotely controlled and is equipped with a camera.

The incident comes a day after one person died and two others were injured in a four-storey residential building located behind the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in south

Mumbai.

This is latest in a series of fire incidents in the metropolis in the last few years.

There have been over 49,000 fire incidents in Mumbai in the last one decade, killing more than 600 people, the Maharashtra government had told the assembly in November 2018.

A massive fire in two pubs located in the Kamala Mills Compound here had claimed 14 lives on December 29, 2017.

Besides, 12 people were killed in a blaze at a snack shop in Saki Naka-Kurla area on December 18, 2017.