5 Dead As Fire Breaks Out at a Highrise in Mumbai’s Tilak Nagar
Firefighting operations are underway with five fire engines and four water tankers reportedly at the spot.
Five people, including four elderly people, died on Thursday, 27 December, after a level-3 fire broke out at a society in Mumbai's suburban Tilak Nagar, as reported by PTI. A fireman was also injured in the operations.
The fire broke out in a 16-storey building located in Sargam society. The search and rescue operation are still underway by the Mumbai Fire Brigade, a Disaster Management Unit official said.
“Our fire brigade control room got information about the incident at 7.51 pm after which our fire-fighting team along with an ambulance rushed to the spot.”Disaster Management Unit official
According to the official, the fire started on the 10th floor of the building, located near Ganesh Garden. The fire brigade team rescued six people from the floor and admitted them to the nearby Rajawadi Hospital, as reported by PTI.
As per senior doctor at the civic-run hospital, five victims succumbed to their burn injuries. A fireman was also injured, who was admitted with another injured person to a hospital. The doctor said that their condition is stable.
The civic official identified the deceased as Sunita Joshi, 72, Bhalchandra Joshi, 72, Suman Shrinivas Joshi, 83, Sarla Suresh Gangar, 52, and Lakshmiben Premji Gangar, 83.
Sunita Joshi is the mother of Sanjay Joshi, in-charge of the Vikhroli police station, he said.
The official added that the fire is under control, however, the cause will be known after an inquiry. Fire brigade personnel are searching the building to ascertain if there are more casualties, he said.
Local residents said indiscriminate parking of vehicles in the area delayed the arrival of fire brigade tankers and equipment.
(With inputs from PTI)