13 years ago
Three die in Mantralaya fire; blaze surges again at Mumbai secretariatThree people have died in the fire that broke out at the Mumbai mantralaya or secretariat, the government's headquarters, this afternoon. The blaze has now become stronger on the sixth floor and through the night, fire fighters will try to put out the flames.
Three bodies have died in the fire at the Mantralaya building. The bodies of Umesh Kotekar and Mahesh Ghugale were found on the sixth floor, outside the Deputy Chief Minister's office.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan says the fire-fighting will continue through the night and that a structural audit will be held tomorrow which will be recorded on video. He also says that ministers will work from alternate offices.
Maharashtra Secretariat fire: Sad day for common man, says NCP leader Jitendra AhwadSpeaking to NDTV, NCP leader Jitendra Ahwad says the fire at the Maharashtra Secretariat will hurt the common man the most as many files were stored in the building.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan looks on as fire engines battle the blaze
Eight people have been injured in Maharashtra Secretariat fire; two hurt seriously.
Government staff fold the Indian national flag from the top of the burning Mantralaya building
Fire engines took 30 minutes to reach: EyewitnessAn eyewitness tells NDTV that it took the fire engines nearly 30 minutes to reach the Mantralaya. He says had they been quicker, the situation would have been handled better.
Trapped people should go to terrace, chopper will pick them up: Navy
All roads to Mantralaya from Flora Fountain and Churchgate areas have been blocked.
Three people have been injured. They have been rushed to hospital.
Navy helicopters have been brought in to help fight the fire
There was chaos as the fire spread: EyewitnessAs the fire spread on the fourth floor of the Mumbai Mantralaya, panic gripped the building, said an eyewitness.
The fire as seen from the Marine Drive
Cranes being used for evacuation
Smoke from the fire has spread to the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST railway station), which is about four kilometres away.
Sources say an air conditioning short circuit may have caused the fire.
The JJ flyover has been closed to civilian traffic.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that people are trapped on the fifth and the sixth floor. Cranes are being used to bring people down to safety.
Oxygen masks have been sent to the spot for people who have been rescued.
Oxygen masks have been sent to the spot for people who have been rescued.
There are reports that the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister's office have been heavily damaged in the fire. Sources say Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was inside the building but has been rescued.
Fire-fighters are trying to prevent it from spreading to other floors in the building. The sixth floor houses Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's office.
At least 20 fire engines and three ambulances have been rushed to the spot. Force One, Maharashtra's elite security force, has also been called in for help.
Approximately 200-300 people were inside the seven-storey building when the fire broke out.
No casualties have been reported so far, but according to some reports, several people are feared trapped inside the building.
