In a fire incident that occurred on Sunday morning in Mumbai‘s Dharavi area, a ground-plus seven-storey building called ‘Shama’ was engulfed in flames, leading to a swift response from the authorities. With approximately 70 residents successfully rescued through staircases, the fire was brought under control within one and a half hours. While 34 individuals, including three children, were admitted to the hospital due to smoke inhalation, all affected individuals are now in stable condition.
At around 11 am, a fire broke out in the ‘Shama’ building located on a 90-ft road in Dharavi. As soon as the emergency call was received, fire officials, along with civic ward officials and local police, swiftly arrived at the scene to initiate the rescue operation. The fire primarily affected the electric wiring, CCTV at the common passage on the ground floor, electric ducting from the ground to the 7th floor, and scrap material in the passage from the 5th to the 7th floor.
Firefighters faced the challenging task of battling the blaze while ensuring the safe evacuation of residents. Utilizing the building’s staircases, approximately 70 residents were successfully rescued from the affected building. However, due to smoke inhalation, 34 individuals, including three children, experienced discomfort and were immediately taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Thankfully, all those affected are now in stable condition, and their injuries are being attended to by medical professionals.
Firefighters promptly initiated firefighting operations, utilizing two small hose lines and four motor pumps to extinguish the fire. The process was carried out effectively after the electric supply was disconnected by personnel from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). Their swift action played a crucial role in containing the blaze.
The fire was determined to have originated from a short circuit in the electric duct area of the building. After extinguishing the flames, fire officials conducted a thorough check of all the flats to ensure no one was trapped inside. During their inspection, they discovered thick smoke emanating from a few houses where food had been left cooking on gas stoves. The immediate action was taken to shut off the gas supply, and cooling operations were completed by the afternoon.
As a consequence of the fire incident, a total of 32 residents required medical attention due to smoke inhalation. Of these, 29 individuals were admitted to Sion hospital, with four of them receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The medical staff at the hospital provided necessary care and monitoring to ensure the well-being of the affected individuals.
The fire incident in Mumbai’s Dharavi area highlights the importance of prompt response and efficient coordination between fire officials, civic ward authorities, and local police. The successful rescue operation resulted in the safe evacuation of approximately 70 residents, while medical assistance was provided to those affected by smoke inhalation. The efforts of the fire brigade and other rescue teams in extinguishing the fire and ensuring the well-being of the residents deserve commendation. This incident also underscores the significance of fire safety measures and the need for continuous awareness and preparedness within residential communities to prevent such incidents in the future.
