'Make In India' Event Fire In Mumbai: Were Warnings Ignored?

Mumbai: Even as a probe is on to ascertain what caused the massive fire during a cultural programme at a 'Make In India' event in Mumbai on Sunday, questions are being asked if warnings issued by fire department were ignored by organisers.

Sources have told NDTV that the Fire Department had cautioned against the use of fireworks near the stage, but overlooking those warnings, pyrotechnics and smoke machines were used on the stage which could have possibly caused the fire.

Prabhat Rahangdale, Chief Fire Officer of Mumbai, says his department will investigate if necessary precautions were taken.

"We had included all precautions and warnings in our recommendations but we don't know if they were followed. We are going to collect circumstantial evidences and speak to all witnesses for our report," he told NDTV.

Fire officials have said they will probe all aspects, "including finding out if there was a sabotage angle involved."

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Meanwhile, Right To Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali has alleged that safety was compromised at the Make In India Week event. "I think the fire erupted because the organisers were careless. Whenever such a situation has occurred in Mumbai, a police complaint is filed immediately, but this hasn't been the case this time," he said.

The blaze broke out of sparklers during a Lavani performance on the stage at around 8.15 PM on Sunday when approximately 10,000 people, including VVIPs like Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, were present at the venue. No casualties were reported as the venue at the Girgaum Chowpatty area was emptied within minutes.

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The event's organiser, Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd, has said all safety precautions were followed.

"All fire and safety norms prescribed were followed. We are grateful for the help from the Maharashtra government and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his team, who stayed at the venue right till the end to ensure the venue was evacuated and reviewed the site in detail post the fire was doused," it said.