Fire in Mumbai Building Kills 4, Developer Sent to Custody

Nearly 30 people were rescued from the high-rise residential building, of which 16 injured are undergoing treatment.

(Photo: AP)

Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
Video Producer: Srishti Tyagi

The Mumbai police on Wednesday, 22 August arrested developer Abdul Razak Ismail Sopariwala in connection with the fire incident at Crystal Tower that left four people dead and at least 16 others severely injured.

Following the arrest, the Bhoiwada Court remanded him to police custody till 27 August, ANI reports.

An FIR was lodged under relevant sections of the IPC and under Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Act 2006 against him.

Four persons, including an elderly woman, were killed as a level-4 fire broke out in Mumbai’s Crystal Tower on the morning of Wednesday, 22 August.

Nearly 30 people were rescued from the high-rise residential building. The 16 injured are currently undergoing treatment at the King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital. Their condition is said to be stable.

Twenty victims were brought to the KEM Hospital, of which four were brought dead, including one female senior citizen and three males. Two bodies have been identified. Sixteen patients are stable, including 10 males and six females.

Dr Avinash N Supe, KEM Hospital Dean, as quoted by ANI

Two of the victims were identified as Shubhada Shelke, 62, and Bablu Shaikh, 36. The identities of the two other persons were being ascertained.

The fire broke out on the 12th floor of 17-storey Crystal Towers building located in Parel. The blaze has been brought under control, with cooling operations having been conducted.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reportedly said that they had sent a notice concerning the building in 2016. The 2016 BMC notice had said the building must be vacated in seven days and asked not to reoccupy the building until clearance was given, reported CNN-News18.

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

(Photo: ANI)

A woman breaks down after she was rescued from the Crystal Tower.

Fire Could be Due to a Short-Circuit

As many as 14 fire engines were rushed to the spot to douse the blaze in the building, which is situated near Hindmata Cinema in Parel. Four water tankers were also present along with officials of the Mumbai Police and electrical mechanics.

Though the exact cause of the fire is being investigated, officials said it could be due to a short-circuit, reported IANS.

The fire started as a level-2 fire but later escalated to a level-4 blaze. The blaze was predominantly between the 12th and 16th floors of the building. Speaking to ANI, a fire department official said the area near the lift on the 12th floor was the worst-affected.

Fire in the electrical wiring kept in duct area had caused smoke and heat on the entire floor, because of which people on upper floors were trapped.

Fire department official

Officials further alleged that the fire alarm in the building was not in working condition.

The fire brigade control room got a message at 8:32 am about the blaze on the 12th floor. The smoke from the raging fire spread rapidly, trapping the residents in the stairs, Mumbai Fire Brigade chief PS Rahangdale said, reported PTI. Snorkel ladders were used to rescue residents stranded in the building, an official in the fire brigade control room said.

Rushing to the site, Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar had reportedly said a probe would be launched to find out if there were any safety violations in the building and appropriate action shall be taken.

Some residents also said that there was no fire-fighting equipment or escape routes in the building premises, reported IANS.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS and ANI)