Kamala Mills Fire: 14 Dead, Restaurants Say Regulations in Order
A massive fire broke out at the Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai’s Lower Parel locality in the wee hours of Friday.
Visuals From the Spot
The fire started after 12:30 am on the third floor of the building on Senapati Bapat Marg, a commercial hub of the city, a police official said.
The building, in Central Mumbai, houses some commercial establishments including hotels. The building also houses several media houses like Mirror Now, ET Now and Zoom.
“Clear Case of Negligence”: MLA Sunil Shinde
Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Shinde said demanded that an enquiry be launched into the fire mishap.
At Least 14 Dead: CMO of KEM Hospital
Speaking to The Quint, the Chief Medical Officer of KEM Hospital said:
Investigation to Begin After Fire Doused: Police
Speaking to The Quint, Govind Sawant, a police constable from the NM Joshi station said:
Transmission Dishes of TV Channels Charred
The transmission dishes of the channels ET Now, Mirror Now and Zoom TV, whose offices are located adjacent to the pub, have been charred in the fire.
According to a Times Now report, the fire was triggered by a short circuit in the pub.
Fire Began at MOJO Pub: Reports
The fire reportedly began in an eatery- the MOJO Pub and Bistro, located within the premises of the compound.
From Ground Zero: Visuals From the Kamala Mills Compund
Close to seven fire tenders have been deployed at the spot.
Firemen Prepare to Go to Spot of Fire
We're Probing the Cause of the Fire: Fire Officer
Gas cylinders were seen being stored just a few meters away from the site of fire today morning.
FIR Filed Against Restaurant Owner
An FIR has been registered against Kripesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijit Mankar – the owners of the ‘1 Above’ restaurant in Lower Parel locality where the fire broke out. The case has been filed under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for culpable homicide.
A Times of India report said that fire started from ‘1 Above’ restaurant and spread to ‘Mojo’ pub.
ANI said that the transmission of the ET Now, Mirror Now, Zoom and TV9 Marathi, located in Kamala Mill compound’s Trade House building, have been affected by the fire.
Restaurants on the Building's Top Floor Gutted in the Fire
President Offers Condolences
Aaditya Thackeray, Yuva Sena chief, said that the BMC “will come down hard on violations of fire safety norms”.
Deaths Due to Suffocation: Postmortem Report
Dr Rajesh Dere, who performed the postmortem, told ANI that 14 individuals died of suffocation.
The ‘1 Above’ restaurant was hosting a ‘Ladies Night’ on Thursday night when the fire broke out. Of the 14 killed, 11 were women who were attending the event at the rooftop restaurant, a police official told Times of India.
Ajay Agarwal, who lost his sister in the fire, told CNN-News18 that Preeti, 48, was dining with her daughter at the restaurant when the fire broke out. The two rushed towards the staircase to escape, but Preeti was pushed inside a washroom where she suffocated to death.
PM Modi Offers Condolences
The Quint Reports From KEM Hospital
The Quint reports from KEM Hospital where eight of the 16 injured are undergoing treatment.
Maharashtra CM Orders In-Depth Probe
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled the deaths of 14 people in the Kamala Mills fire incident and said that an in-depth enquiry has been ordered.
Avinash Supe, Dean, KEM Hospital told media that 12 injured patients were admitted to the hospital and were treated. “They now stable and have gone home or to other hospitals,” he told reporters while adding that “14 dead bodies were also brought to the hospital. They died due to burns or suffocation.”
"Sheesha Coal Started Fire"
A few individuals present at ‘1 Above’ on Thursday night and managed to escape posted on social media indicating that it was the coal from the hookahs being served at the restaurant that started the fire.
An activist told ANI that he made several complaints regarding illegal structures in the Kamala Mills compound, “but the BMC replied that there is nothing wrong.”
Minister of State Apprised of Situation
Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir spoke to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and inquired about the Kamala Mills fire incident.
Guilty Should Be Punished: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims of the families and demanded the guilty to be brought to book.
BMC Responsible for Deaths: Kirit Somaiya
BJP Mumbai’s Kirit Somaiya said that it was the BMC which was responsible for the Kamala Mills fire.
Will Take Action Against Those Responsible: BMC Mayor
BMC mayor Vishvanath Mahadeshwar said an inquiry has been ordered in the Kamala Mills incident.
The Moment When the Fire Broke Out
"Proper Evacuation Plan Could Have Avoided Tragedy"
Kamala Mills Fire Debated in Lok Sabha
BJP MP Kirit Somaiya and Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant argue in Lok Sabha over the Kamala Mills fire.
There Was a Stampede-like Situation: Survivor
One of the survivors, Dr Sulbha Arora, told CNN-News18 that there was a stampede-like situation after the fire broke out. She added that the ‘1 Above’ restaurant had no emergency exits and had only one entry and exit points.
Watch an eyewitness’ account of the incident.
Babu Lal, grandfather of Khushbu who lost her life in the fire, said that there was an “illegal” bamboo structure on the rooftop that could easily catch fire. She was celebrating her 28th birthday with her family at ‘1 Above’ when the fire broke out.
Hookah, Sheesha Illegally Served: BMC
After a fire ravaged restaurants in Kamala Mills in Mumbai, the BMC has stated that the restaurants were illegally serving hookah and sheesha, as The Times of India reported.
BMC Credits PTI for Informing it About the Fire
Mumbai's civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation credited the Press Trust of India for alerting authorities about the midnight blaze that broke out on the top floor of a building and claimed 14 lives.
"The disaster management control room was alerted by PTI about the fire," said a report issued by the BMC disaster management cell.
The Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai's Lower Parel area where the blaze occurred is a refurbished industrial compound, housing swanky restaurants and other commercial establishments.
There have been allegations that civic authorities have turned a blind eye to construction irregularities and violation of fire safety norms in the compound.
Definite Case of Negligence: Jaya Bachchan
Jaya Bachahan, a Rajya sabha MP said that the Kamala Mills fire was an obvious case of negligence.
List of Victims of Pub Fire
The Dean of KEM Hospital Avinash Supe said that the 12 injured are now out of danger.
Shiv Sena Demands Judicial Inquiry
Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant in Lok Sabha demanded a judicial inquiry into the Kamala Mills Fire incident.
Times Network Issues Statement
Victims of the Kamala Mills Fire
- Pramila - age unknown
- Tejal Gandhi - 36
- Khushbu Bhansali - 29
- Vishwa Lalani - 23
- Parul Lakdawala - 49
- Dhairya Lalani - 26
- Kinjal - 21
- Kavita Dharani - 36
- Shafali - age unknown
- Tasha - 22
- Sarbjeet - age unknown
- Prachi - 30
- Mannisha - 47
- Priti - 41
A Victim’s Grandfather Speaks About the Tragedy
Two Pub Owners Apprehended
Police booked the owners on ‘1 Above’ restaurant in Kamala Mills where the fire started, and have nabbed two of them while one is still absconding, as Indian Express reported.
"Kamala Mills Utilised More FSI Than Allocated"
Mumbai’s BJP president Ashish Shelar told The Quint that Kamala Mill compound utilised 10 percent more than the allocated Floor Space Index (FSI). He has asked the BMC to look into the matter and take action against the guilty.
Kin of Uphaar Fire Tragedy Speaks Out
Neelam Krishnamoorthy, who lost both of her children in the 1997 Uphaar fire tragedy said that the Kamala Mills fire felt like a personal failure to her.
BMC's Corruption Highlighted: Former Mumbai CP
Former Mumbai CP Dr Satyapal Singh said that the corruption of the BMC has been highlighted and strict actions needs to be taken against such officials, as CNN News18 reported.
Too Many Migrants Responsible for Fire: Hema Malini
Outside the Parliament, actor Hema Malini said that the Kamala Mills fire was because of the city’s swelling migrant population.
Moments Before the Fire
Just moments before the Kamala Mills fire broke out, 29-year-old Khushbu was celebrating her birthday with friends there at a bar.
1 Above Defaulted in Thrice Just This Year
The BMC hauled up the ‘1 Above’ restaurant thrice this year alone and had dragged them to criminal court as well for several violations, as The Times of India reported.
Ravi Raja, a leader of the opposition in the BMC and a Congress corporator had complained to the BMC against offices, restaurants violating rules and converting open spaces into restaurants. In a written reply to Raja, the BMC said that no violation had been committed by any structure in the area.
5 BMC Officials Suspended
Five BMC officials have been suspended after the Kamla Mills fire left 14 people dead.
No Exit Gates for People to Escape: MNS Activist
MNS activist claimed to have informed the authorities of the illegal encroachment in October 2017 but was told that there was no such violation.
He also said that these pubs and restaurants lacked exits which prevented people from escaping when the fire started.
Fadnavis Visits Site After More Than 12 Hours
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited the site of the tradegy more 12 hours after the incident to take stock of the situation.
Mojo's Bistro Says Fire Safety Norm in Order
According to Republic TV, in an official statement Mojo’s Bistro said that it had all its “fire safety norms, certificates and procedures in place”.
Floor Space Index Violation Key Reason Behind Spreading of Fire
Had Told Mayor About Illegal Encroachment: Aditya Thackeray
Leader and chairperson of the Shiv Sena said, “I had pointed the illegal encroachment to the mayor on Thursday, the issue was supposed to be taken up at today’s meeting”,
It Was Difficult to Escape: Survivor
"1 Above" Says Fire Safety Protocols Helped Them Save Many Lives
In an official statement, “1 Above” said that their fire safety regulations were in place which helped them save many lives.
In its statement Mojo’s Bistro also claimed that it had all its “fire safety norms, certificates and procedures in place”.
One More Case Filed
One more case has been registered by Mumbai Police against the uncle of owners of '1 Above' restaurant.
'1 Above' Owners' Relatives Granted Bail
Two relatives of the ‘1 Above’ restaurant owners were granted bail on Sunday. They were arrested on Saturday night.
The police had arrested the two for allegedly providing shelter to the '1 Above' pub owners, who were booked following a devastating fire at their establishment which killed 14 people on Friday.
They were produced later before a court in Bhoiwada which granted them bail on a bond of Rs 25,000 each, a senior police official said.
Sanghvi brothers' uncle Rakesh Sanghvi and cousin Aditya Sanghvi were arrested while a search was on for another relative Mahendra Sanghvi, according to Avinash Shingthe, Senior Police Inspector, Byculla.
Officials said that the relatives, all residents of Mazgaon area in Byculla, were booked under IPC section 216 which pertains to harbouring an offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered.
Meanwhile, the N M Joshi Marg police, probing the fire case, recorded the statements of 27 eyewitnesses and said they were looking for more witnesses.
Fourteen persons were killed and 16 injured after a massive fire broke out at the Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai's Lower Parel locality, in the wee hours of Friday, 29 December. Of the 16 injured, eight were admitted to KEM Hospital for medical assistance while others were shifted to private hospitals.
According to reports, the fire started at the ‘1 Above’ restaurant and spread to ‘Mojo’ pub. Earlier, reports said that the fire had also spread to the London Taxi restaurant, but the premises have not been affected.
- 14 dead and 16 injured in a fire at Mumbai’s Kamala Mills compound late Thursday night
- Of the 14 killed, 11 were women attending an event at a rooftop restaurant
- Transmission of Mirror Now, Zoom and TV9 Marathi channels, located in Kamala Mill, were disrupted
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called for an in-depth probe
- Reports suggest the fire started at the ‘1 Above’ restaurant
- Five BMC officials suspended
Watch The Quint’s report from Ground Zero:
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