Tragedy Strikes Mumbai’s Goregaon: 7 Lives Lost, 51 Injured in Devastating Building Fire
In a tragic incident that shook the city, seven lives were lost and 51 individuals were injured when a fierce fire erupted in a seven-story residential building in Mumbai’s Goregaon West, Mumbai, during the early hours of Friday. Among the victims were two minors, and the incident has left the community in mourning.
The blaze was first reported at 3:05 a.m. at Jay Bhavani building, a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) structure located near Azad Maidan in Goregaon West. The casualties included three women, a man, and two young girls, with one body yet to be identified.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials managed to bring the flames under control by 6:45 a.m., but the devastating impact of the fire was already evident.
According to The Indian Express, Additional Fire Divisional Officer (ADFO) Somnath Bhaye of Goregaon, the fire originated in one of the vehicles parked in the stilt parking area of the building and rapidly spread throughout the SRA building via the elevator shaft. “Several vehicles, including three four-wheelers, 40 motorcycles, and bicycles, were parked in the stilt area where the fire initially started. Additionally, a significant amount of scrap clothes had been stored on the ground floor, which fueled the fire’s rapid progression,” Bhaye explained. “The fire spread from here to the ground floor and then ascended to the seventh floor through the lift area.”
The latest report from the civic body revealed that on the ground floor, the fire primarily affected shops, scrap material, textiles, and vehicles in the stilt area. On the upper floors, it devoured staircases, doors, windows, and various household structures.
The fire’s outbreak in the middle of the night caught the building’s residents off guard, as they were asleep at the time.
After the rescue operation, 15 of the injured were transported to Cooper Hospital, while 36 were taken to Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray (HBT) Medical College Hospital. Unfortunately, one of the patients admitted to Cooper Hospital has succumbed to their injuries, and another remains in critical condition. Nine others are in stable condition, and four chose to be discharged against medical advice. Among the 36 individuals admitted to Jogeshwari’s HBT Hospital, six were pronounced dead upon arrival, four are in critical condition, and 26 are currently in stable condition.
To combat the raging inferno, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) deployed a formidable force, including eight fire engines, five jumbo tankers, a water tank, a turntable ladder, and a quick-reaction vehicle. A civic report stated, “A total of six hose lines, including three small hose lines, two big hose lines, and one high-pressure line with eight motor pumps, were in operation. More than 30 people were rescued using ladders, in addition to five BA [breathing apparatus] sets.”
In response to the disaster, Municipal Commissioner and state-appointed administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal is scheduled to visit the hospitals where the injured individuals have been admitted at 10:30 am on Friday. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and preparedness in densely populated urban areas.