Fire breaks out in Mahalaxmi highrise

Fire fighters trying to douse the fire that broke out at Tirupati Building near Mahalaxmi Mandir on Saturday. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

A fire broke out in a highrise near the Mahalaxmi Temple in Breach Candy area on Saturday. However, no injuries or casualty were reported.

According to fire officials, the fire took place in the 14-storey Tirupati apartments at 3.20 pm.

The fire reportedly started from a 3-BHK flat of the Seth family, who were living on the fourth floor.

There were eight members in the flat, when sparks occurred in the bedroom and ensued in a fire that spread all over the flat.

However, all the members of Seth family managed to escape. They also immediately informed the fire brigade, which evacuated the floor and controlled the fire.

Eight fire engines and five-water tankers were pressed into service and the fire was brought under control within 30 minutes.

“We brought down eight residents of fourth floor by staircase and other 15 residents were taken to the terrace,” a senior official of the fire department said.

“As three wings of the building are connected to each other, we brought them down from the other wing. The entire flat of the Seth family was gutted in the blaze,” he further added.

The officer said some other flats on the fourth and fifth storey have also been damaged in the fire. A man identified as Anil Yadav suffered breathing problems owing to smoke, but was treated immediately in the ambulance and allowed to go home. Prima facie the cause of the fire looks to be short circuit, but detailed investigation is going on, he added.

The incident created panic among the residents of Tirupati Apartments.

“We heard voices of the Seth family members and when we checked we saw flames coming out from their flat,” a neighbour of the Seth family said.

“We immediately rushed to a balcony. Later, the fire brigade officials came and brought us down from the building staircase,” he further added.