At least six people died in a major fire that broke out inside a 20-storeyed residential building in Mumbai this morning.
Another 23 people were also injured in the massive blaze that started around 7 am on the 18th floor of Kamla building opposite Gandhi Hospital at Gowalia Tank in Mumbai's Tardeo area.
Footage from the scene showed a massive plume of smoke filling the sky, with flames coming out from the building. The fire has been brought under control now, officials said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who died due to the building fire. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the Prime Minister's Office said.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the incident will be investigated and "guardian minister of Mumbai Suburban Aaditya Thackeray and Mumbai City guardian minister Aslam Shaikh will look into it."
Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray visited the site later in the day and said the government will provide Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the families of those killed in the fire.
"There were reports about 2 hospitals refusing treatment, however both hospitals informed me that they have admitted & treated some of those injured in this fire," he tweeted.
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar told news agency ANI that six elderly people needed oxygen support and were shifted to the hospital. The fire "is under control but smoke is huge. All people have been rescued," she added.
She said Reliance and Wockhardt hospitals had initially denied admission to fire victims when they were rushed there in the morning. "We will enquire about this".
On being alerted, the fire brigade personnel and police had rushed to the spot. A civic body official said 13 fire engines and seven water jetties, among others, were involved in the firefighting operation, adding that it was tagged as a level-3 (major) fire.
Officials said at least 16 injured have been admitted to different hospitals while seven have been discharged after treatment.
It's an unfortunate incident, Maharashtra BJP president and MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha said.
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