Mumbai:
The death of seven people in Friday evening's fire at a high rise building in south Mumbai has left 20-year-old Khushaal Talreja and his family in a state of shock. His house on the 11th floor of Mont Blanc building in Kemps Corner is completely flooded.
"My flat is very much filled with water, even my neighbours' flat... When I saw the 12th floor, 13th floor, or the entire stairway, everything has been burnt. It just seems like a dungeon," Khushaal told NDTV.
On Friday, Khushaal returned home from college to find the floor above his flat in flames. While he is relieved that his family is safe but lives of many of its residents are now in limbo. With their homes flooded and all 26 floors without power, access to the building is a problem for residents. Those who have lost their loves ones are in no position to speak. Amongst those who have died are noted film producer Dinesh Gandhi.
"People say Mumbai bounces back. But these are just things you say when you are on the other side," Khushaal said.
As the blaze broke out, the fire alarms had gone off to warn the residents. But some chose to ignore it thinking it was just one more mock drill.
"The mock drills did infuse some kind of confusion but eventually when you see people around creating havoc you do realise that there is something happening and you need to move out," said Khushaal.
The building's fire-fighting systems helped the fire brigade control the blaze. While residents have raised doubts about the power sky lifts and water jets, the fire brigade says they could control the fire only because they had the right equipment. The fire brigade also denies that they arrived late, an allegation made by the residents.
Mumbai is a city of sky scrapers and particularly at risk are high rise buildings with narrow alley-ways as approach roads and single exits. Friday's blaze serves as an eye opener of how the city urgently needs to put together a fire fighting strategy to tackle infernos like these.