The fire seems to have started at a restaurant in Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel.
A
massive fire broke out at a building in Kamala Mills Compound in the Lower Parel area of Mumbai. So far, 14 people have been reported dead and several others injured. Majority of those killed are women, according to civic authorities. The fire appears to have started at a restaurant at the top floor of the building, although the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Those injured were rushed to King Edward Memorial Hospital and Scion Hospital. Fire-fighters took more than three hours to douse the huge flames that leapt up in central Mumbai's nightlife hub. The fire brigade found that illegal constructions exacerbated the fire, which finally brought the restaurants down.The building in Mumbai houses commercial establishments including news channels have had to stop broadcasting.
Here are the highlights of the fire at Mumbai's Kamala Mills Complex:
Mojo Bistro, a pub in Kamala Mills, said its guests were escorted out safely and denied allegations of having cylinders on its premises.
Five Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials suspended for negligence in connection with fire at roof-top pub in Mumbai's Kamala Mills compound: reported Press Trust of India quoting Commissioner Ajoy Mehta
FIR registered against for not keeping any fire safety equipment, blocking safety exits and not helping those trapped in fire.
Video of 28-year-old woman celebrating her birthday at a roof-top pub in Kamala Mills before she died.
Commenting on the fire at Kamala Mills compound, Kirit Somaiaya, a BJP lawmaker, alleged that the fire department had given clearance illegally to the pubs and restaurants despite violations.
"For me it is because the fire department is giving illegal NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to simultaneously the health department of BMC who are giving permissions to such restaurants,"Mr Somaiaya said.
Mumbai's civic body had been warned just months ago about deadly violations in the four-storey building at Kamala Mills where the fire at a rooftop restaurant left 14 dead. The politician who claims to have complained to the agency about the Trade House building says he was told that there was "nothing illegal".
Investigation on the fire in Mumbai's Kamala Mills complex: S Jay Kumar, a senior Mumbai police officer said he could not speak on the cause of fire. "We have started our investigation... It is only after investigation that we will be able to say anything," he said.
The fire at a rooftop pub in Kamala Mills compound intensified by a false ceiling made of inflammable material. The fire engulfed the rooftop within minutes, with hardly any escape route for the revelers.
Among the major violations in fire safety rules that have emerged so far is the absence of fire extinguishers in the restaurant. There were no emergency exits as well.
Mojo Bistro in Kamala Mills was the building next to 1 Above that was caught in the fire. The bistro posted their official statement on the fire, "We are extremely saddened by the incident. Mojo's has all its fire safety norms, certificates, and procedures in place. The staff are thoroughly trained in fire drills hence our staff was able to evacuate all our guests and themselves out to safety with zero injuries. There were NO cylinders on our premises. We are fully complying with the authorities to help in any way we can.
Our prayers and deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this gruesome incident."
28-year-old Khushboo Mehta celebrating her birthday died at a rooftop pub in Mumbai's Kamala Mills compound.
"Our deepest condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic fire incident at Kamala Mills. We wish a speedy and complete recovery to those injured. Congress workers in the area are urged to put their best foot forward to support the rescue operation," the official Twitter account of the Congress' Maharashtra wing posted.
The 28-year-old who died in the fire on her birthday was identified as Khushboo Mehta. Her grandfather said, "My granddaughter has died. It was her birthday today. No one bothered to check...this restaurant had no fire extinguisher, no equipment to put out fires, no proper outlets. The civic bodies and police did nothing."
"There was no time for anyone to reach out because the fire spread so rapidly. The staff members of the restaurant were trying to help the customers as much as possible," says the eyewitness and survivor, Dr Sulbha Arora
Police officials said, "The fire brigade rescued at least 35 injured persons, who were trapped inside the hotel. They were shifted to a hospital".
"BMC Commissioner has visited #KamlaMills in the midnight itself and has taken stock of the situation. Asked him to take strong action against erring officials immediately," Chief Minister Fadnavis said.
"Disturbing to know about the loss of lives in unfortunate #KamalaMills fire incident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Directed the BMC Commissioner to conduct an in-depth enquiry," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis posted on Twitter.
Several news channels also operate from the compound and had to shut down broadcast, reportedly due to damage to their equipment.
A woman celebrating her birthday and her friends were among the 14 who died in the fire that started from a rooftop restaurant in Mumbai's Kamala Mills complex late last night. The 28-year-old woman's body was identified by her boyfriend, the police said.
Prime Minister Narendtra Modi tweeted, "Anguished by the fire in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray that those injured recover quickly: PM @narendramodi"
President Ramnath Kovind tweeted his condolences for those affected by the Mumbai fire.
The majority of those killed were women attending a birthday party at a rooftop restaurant, police said. The 28-year-old woman celebrating her birthday was among those who died, her grandfather told news agency Reuters.
FIR registered under charges of culpable homicide against the restaurant '1 Above' where the fire broke out: news agency ANI
Around 150 people were inside the building when the fire started. Police has registered a case registered against 1 Above, the restaurant where the fire broke out.
Mumbai-based gynaecologist Dr Sulbha KG Arora says there was a stampede as people rushed towards the main exit, adding that no one knew where the fire exits were. Soon after the fire started, the whole place was engulfed in flames, she tweeted.
Casualties details from KEM hospital;
Dead:
1) Jeet- 49 yrs 2) Preeti - 36 yrs 3) Tejal 4) Unknown - 40 yrs 5) Pramila 6) Vishva- 23 yrs 7) Veena- 28 yrs 8) Kavita- 36 yrs 9) Paroli- 30 yrs 10) Dhairya- 26 yrs 11) Manisha- 30 yrs 12) Yasha- 27 13) Unknown 14) Unknown
Critical:
1) Shefali, 2) Khushboo
Condition stable:
1) Rohan- 22 yrs 2) Abhishekh- 22 yrs 3) Deep - 31 yrs 4) Utsav- 27 yrs 5) Ankita - 30 yrs 6) Siddharth- 24 yrs 7) Divya - 24 yrs 8) Neha- 28 yrs 9) Neh - 20 yrs 10) Shankra 11) Jeet- 21 yrs 12) Yash - 22 yrs
The injured were taken to the KEM, and Sion hospitals, an official from the BMC disaster management unit said.
12 of the 15 dead are women, according to BMC officials.
Firemen try to douse the fire at a restaurant in Kamala Mills Complex, Lower Parel.
We have started our investigation... It is only after investigation that we will be able to say anything: S Jay Kumar, senior Mumbai police officer.
Fire started somewhere close to restaurants Mojo's Bistro and 1 Above in Kamala Mills Compound, Lower Parel.
Several news channels that operate from the Kamala Mills compound have had to shut down their broadcast.
Sunil Shinde, Shiv Sena MLA calls for a "proper inquiry" into the Kamala Mills fire incident.
Shiv Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav at KEM hospital says 15 dead and 12 others are injured, ANI reports.