Major fire in Bandra West slum updates: Reports say wind speed disrupting firefighting ops, but blaze under control

Fire brigade, ward staffers, local police aiding in firefighting ops, rescue efforts    

A joint team of fire brigade, ward staffers and Mumbai Police personnel has been mobilised to douse the flames, PTI reported. 

No casualty reported o far

The prompt action by the fire department, which brought in nine fire tenders, and eight water tankers, has ensured zero casualties so far.  

Watch: Visuals from Bandra West where a level-III fire broke out

Twitter users started posting pictures and video of the area under siege of the fire. Gutted in blaze were mostly small shanties owned by migrant labourers and poor people living on the margin of posh Bandra Reclamation area. 

#Fire breaks out in Garibnagar in #Bandra.
8 water tankers and 9 fire engines on spot.
No casualties reported. The cause of the fire is believed to be a cylinder blast.

cc: @RidlrMUM @mumbaitraffic @RoadsOfMumbai #MumbaiFire pic.twitter.com/ksiEvvg8Uw

— MR. KHAN (@salmankhan9167) October 30, 2018

Wind speed causing difficulty in firefighting ops 

According to reports, the fire incident took place right opposite Bandra Fire Station and fire tenders were rushed immediately. In the fire-fighting operation, the wind speed is posing difficulties. 

#BREAKING -- The incident took place right opposite Bandra Fire Station and fire tenders were rushed immediately. In the fire-fighting operation, the wind speed is posing difficulties. pic.twitter.com/LlipT4il25

— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 30, 2018

Blaze started around 11.30 am; cylinder blast likely cause

Initial reports suggest that the blaze started at around 11:30 am in the shanties behind Nargis Dutt Nagar. The likely cause is said to be a cylinder blast at one of the homes in the tightly-packed residential slum. However, Firstpost could not independently verify this report. 

Fire near off ramp at Bandra Reclamation area

Social media users tweeted videos of fire trucks trying to douse the flames from the Bandra Reclamation flyover.

Avoid off ramp near Bandra Reclamation, big fire looks like originated from the shanty under the bridge. #mumbai #bandra pic.twitter.com/w0FB5o56bm

— Mike Melli (@mikemelli) October 30, 2018

Traffic on Western Express Highway suspended briefly 

Traffic from the Western Express Highway towards Lilavati Hospital in Bandra Reclamation and vice versa has reportedly been stopped for some time. More updates on the traffic situation are yet to come. 

Nine fire engines, eight water tankers brought in to douse fire

Nine fire engines and eight water tankers have been brought in to douse the Level 3 fire at the slums opposite the Bandra Fire Station on Nagardas Road. The blaze has reportedly been brought under control.

Level 3 fire at Bandra slum 

A level-3 fire broke out in the Lalmati slums in Mumbai's Bandra West locality on Tuesday. A cylinder blast could be the cause of the blaze.