City divided over bandh overshadowing blaze

Mumbai: Has the Maharashtra Bandh, taken the attention away from the Kamala Mill Compound fire? The opinion was divided on the issue among the Mumbaikars.

Fourteen people were killed in a major fire, which had broken out in two pubs – 1Above and Mojo’s Bristo – at Kamala Mill Compound in Lower Parel last week. With allegations of illegal construction and blatant violation of fire safety norms in establishments at Kamala Mill Compound, the issue had become a talking point among Mumbaikars.

However, the violence during Maharashtra bandh has put the fire issue on the backburner, said Kiran Chavan from Bhandup. “We have heard that some are involved in irregular activities at Kamala Mill Compound. BMC’s drive against illegal constructions across the city was also proving to be an embarrassment for owners of these restaurants. Against this backdrop, the riots have come as a blessing to these people to divert the attention from the fire issue,” he said.

The riots have taken away the attention from the Kamla Mills blaze and have given some breather to the state government which was lambasted by the opposition. Now it remains to be seen how authorities continue their action on the illegal activities at these eating houses, he added.

However, Hemant Mantri from Kandivali thought otherwise. “The Kamala Mill fire and Maharashtra Bandh are two different things altogether. The bandh was there for only one day, whereas the fire investigation is a continuous process and probe won’t be affected.” he said.