Mumbai fire updates: Four firemen sustain injuries while dousing blaze at Crystal Tower in Parel

Building fire safety system not in working condition, says fire brigade 

The fire brigade reported that the Crystal Tower’s internal fire-fighting system was not in a working condition. A statement from the department said that it was a major challenge to move all fire-fighting resources to the upper floors as there were no firefighting structures in place. A major tragedy could be averted only because of timely intervention, which would have been impossible in a heavy-traffic area such as Hindmata and Elphinstone Road. However, owing to a public holiday today, the injured could be promptly shifted to hospitals and the fire brigade could rush in with all resources within time.

12th floor of building worst affected by fire 

Mumbai fire brigade chief Prabhat Rahangdale said that the area around the lift of the12th 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 the upper floors were trapped.  The firefighting operation was carried out with the help of 4 lines(2 big, small and high pressure) of 12 fire engines.

KEM hospital says 16 injured remain stable, four, including elderly woman were brought in dead 

At least 20 people suffered from suffocation due to the smoke. They were rushed to the nearby KEM Hospital, where four of them, including a woman, were declared brought dead, the city civic body said in a statement.

The 16 injured, including six women, were undergoing treatment and their condition was reported to be stable, it said. Two of the deceased were identified as Bablu Shaikh (36) and Shubhada Shelke (62), the civic body said. The identity of two other deceased has not been ascertained yet. The police is trying to determine who all were present in the building at the time of the tragedy.

Crystal Tower declared unsafe; fire department asks authorities to snap water, power supply

A statement from the fire brigade said that the Crystal Tower is declared unsafe. The authorities have been asked to disconnect electric supply and water supply of the said tower and the fire department has also asked the police to book responsible persons for criminal negligence, Mumbai fire brigade chief Prabhat Rahangdale said.

Firefighting operations near end**, authorities carry out cooling exercises** 

Sourced from Mumbai Fire Brigade

Crystal Tower did not have occupation clearance from BMC, says senior BMC official 

A senior BMC official said that the Crystal Tower did not have the compulsory occupational clearance from BMC and the residents were served a notice recently. He alsop said that a notice from the department was sent in 2016, however, the builders neglected the norms.

The official also said that  safety norms were flouted because of which the firefighters had to face a lot of difficulty in evacuating people.

‘My whole door was on fire’: Resident narrates early morning ordeal

Kanchan Dulani, 49, who had a flat on the 11th floor of the building, said she was at home when the fire started and tried to rush out of the flat but her front door was in flames. She said the firefighters came after around half an hour later. Her son was calling them and they kept saying, “We have already sent fire brigades to the spot”.

Mayor launches investigation in Crystal Tower incident, says blaze caused by short circuit

Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar lauded the firefighting department and Mumbai Police for their prompt response. He said that the initial investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a short circuit in an apartment on the 12th floor. He also said that a thorough investigation will be launched and anyone found guilty will not be spared.

Firemen say non-compliance of norms, short-circuit behind tragedy 

A firefighter has said that the building was not fired compliant as essential firefighting equipments and structure was missing. He said that renovation work was going on in a flat on the 12th floor where the fire started. He said that the electrical circuit in the building was faulty.

Smoke spread through staircase, snorkel ladders used for rescue: Fire Brigade

The smoke spread through the building’s staircases and lifts were not used as a precautionary measure. Snorkel ladders were used to rescue residents stranded in the building, an official in the fire brigade control room told PTI.

Fire brigade was informed at 8.32 am; blaze spread rapidly, says fire brigade chief

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 told PTI.

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande expresses concern over people’s apathy, says guilty won’t be spared 

Senior Shiv Sena Manisha Kayande said that the authorities will take stern action anybody who may be found guilty of negligence or flouting norms. She, however, also lamented the lack of public awareness of safety measures. She said that it was a society’s responsibility to conduct fire audits every year and conduct safety drills. But people don’t take these things seriously.

Fire department chief says building flouted safety norms

Mumbai Fire Brigade chief PS Rahangdale said that several safety norms were flouted at Crystal Tower, where four people have been killed. Rahangdale said that an initial investigation has revealed that the building did not have any firefighting structure in place.

Four killed in Crustal Tower blaze, over 10 injured 

Two more people have succumbed to their injuries at the hospital taking the total toll to four. Over 10 people have been injured in the incident and the rescue operations are on.

Deaths may have occurred because residents used lift 

The authorities present at the location say that since the bodies were recovered from the elevator, it is likely that these people may have died due to suffocation. A police official, speaking to CNN-News18, said that in a fire situations people are always advised to not use the elevator. However, some people had panicked and tried to get out of the building using the lift.

Rescue operations underway at Crystal Tower 

According to reports, 20 fire engines, four water tankers, officials of the Mumbai Police and electrical mechanics were on the spot and they were making efforts to control the blaze. The fire brigade personnel are breaking open doors of all flats on the affected floors to ensure that no one is stuck inside.

Ambulances being rushed from KEM hospital

According to News18, the authorities have rushed ambulances from the KEM hospital as a precautionary measure. Earlier, 14 people were rushed to the hospital. Since most offices and markets in the area are shut today because of a public holiday on the occasion of Eid-al-Adha. This facilitated the movement of ambulances in an otherwise high-traffic area.

Short-circuit likely cause behind fire at Crystal Tower

The blaze broke out at the 9th and 10th floor of the 16-storey building which is located near Hindmata Cinema. As per initial information, the fire is suspected to have been caused by short-circuit.

Fourteen people injured in Crystal Tower fire 

At least 14 people have been rushed to a local hospital for suffocation. However, an update on the condition of those injured was no available immediately.

Firefighters contain blaze at 12th floor

According to CNN-News18, the firemen have managed to contain the fire at the 12th floor at the moment. The heavily populated area is would have been at a risk of much higher toll count had the fire not been controlled in time.

2 dead in fire at residential complex in Parel, 20 fire tenders at spot 

Two people have reportedly lost their lives in a fire at a residential building, Crystal Tower near Hindmata Cinema in Parel. Fourteen people have been injured.