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Fire in Mumbai high-rise building – Seven killed |
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14 December: Seven people have been killed in a fire that engulfed several floors of the 26-storey Mont Blanc building, located in Kemps Corner in South Mumbai. Five of the seven killed were residents of the building and are yet to be identified. Their bodies have been taken to hospitals in South Mumbai.
The fire broke out on the 12th floor of the building at 7.30 pm on Friday 13th December, and as many as 14 fire engines were brought in to fight the blaze. The fire engines arrived by 8.15 pm. However, only one of them had the equipment required to reach the scene of the fire on the 12th floor. Five people were evacuated from the 12th floor. People living below the 12th floor were also evacuated, while people living on the 14th and 15th floors were moved up to the topmost floor.
The fire engines took three hours to control the blaze in the 12th floor, which has entirely burnt down. Seven water tankers and four ambulances were also involved in the rescue operations. Several fire-fighters and two fire officials were injured in the fire fighting operations and have been admitted to hospital.
Eyewitnesses and residents of the building have indicated that the fire broke out when gas cylinders that were kept in the corridor of the building, exploded. Fire Brigade and BMC sources have confirmed that the fire is now “under control”.
