60 homes gutted after fire in slum

Several slums were gutted in a massive fire that broke out in Govandi area of Mumbai late Thursday night. Several fire tenders rushed to the spot and toiled for hours to douse the flames. No casualty has been reported.

(Photo: Asian Age)

Nearly 60 homes were destroyed after a fire broke out at Bhimwadi Nagar slums in the eastern suburbs of Govandi during the early hours of Friday. The incident occurred around 2.40 am when all the residents were fast asleep.

There are around 2,000 families staying in Bhimwadi Nagar slums. At about 2.30 am, a gas cylinder burst in a factory where ladies’ sandals are manufactured.

“All residents were alerted and they called the police and the fire brigade as well. Meanwhile, the fire spread to nearby homes causing four more cylinders to burst, further fanning the flames,” said Vijaykumar Singh, a resident.

Assistant commissioner of police (ACP), Abdul Rauf Sheikh, said, “Our officials got a call at around 3 am and immediately informed fire brigade officers. Only two people were injured, including a fireman who was rushed to a burns centre in Airoli after suffering 25 per cent burns. The fireman, identified as Sampat Bhamble (40) is now out of danger. At least 12 cylinders burst during the fire. Abdul Kalam (52), a local, suffered minor injuries to his left hand and was sent to Rajawadi Hospital for treatment and later discharged.”

Fire brigade officials said they received the first call about the fire at about 3.51 am. At the time, the fire was confined to household articles, electric wiring, LPG cylinders in 50 to 60 huts, raw material and furniture in various godowns in an area of about 400X300 feet. A total of 16 fire engines and 10 water tankers were rushed to the spot.

Police believe fire broke out in a local shoe factory in the area which belongs to one Abdul Kadar Sheikh (32). “More than 60 houses were destroyed in the fire. It was a huge task given that some people were refusing to leave their homes,” said a fire brigade official.

API Dhajani Jagdale said, “We have asked slum dwellers to lodge a complaint and will definitely investigate the cause of this fire”. Assistant municipal commissioner M (east), Kiran Dighavkar, said, “The factory is illegal and we have sent notice to it and other factories in October 2015. However follow up was not done thereafter. We conducted a drive today and 18 illegal cylinders were confiscated from the area.”

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