MUMBAI: A fire in a high-rise building in Borivali East claimed the life of a 70-year-old man and injured three others on Thursday afternoon.
The blaze broke out in the 22-storey Kanakia Samarpan Tower, where fire officials managed to rescue over 100 residents, including many senior citizens. Security staff also helped evacuate some residents from the lower floors.
According to an official, the building lacked a functional firefighting system aside from a few fire extinguishers. As a result, the fire brigade is expected to issue a notice to the housing society.
The fire is believed to have started due to a short circuit in the electrical duct between the seventh and eighth floors. Although the fire was extinguished within half an hour, thick smoke filled the building’s passages, witnesses reported.
Mahendra Shah, a resident of the 21st floor, was declared dead before reaching the hospital. The injured individuals—Ranjana Rajput (59), her daughter Shivani Rajput (26), and Shobha Savle (70)—suffered from suffocation and are in stable condition at the hospital.
A fire brigade official described the situation: “The fire originated in the electrical duct between the seventh and eighth floors, causing smoke to spread throughout the building. We assisted in the rescue of between 100 and 150 residents, including some who were taken to the terrace.
The smoke caused panic among the residents. Initially, they tried to extinguish the fire with fire extinguishers, but without turning off the electrical supply, the fire kept reigniting. We had to extend our hose lines up to the 13th floor to fully extinguish the fire.”
The official added that the injured individuals sustained injuries primarily due to suffocation. “The senior citizen was alive when we rescued him, but he may have passed away en route to the hospital. We successfully rescued many senior citizens.”
