Mumbai: At least seven people have died in a massive fire that broke out inside a 20-storey building in Mumbai this morning.
Fifteen other people were injured in the blaze that started at around 7am on the 18th floor of the Kamla building opposite Gandhi Hospital in Gowalia Tank in the Mumbai area of Tardeo.
Photographs taken at the scene showed smoke billowing from the sky, leaving flames emanating from the building.
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar told ANI media that six adults needed medical support and were taken to hospital. The fire was “uncontrollable but the smoke was huge. Everyone was rescued,” he added.
When reported, firefighters and police rushed to the scene. A civil society official said 13 fire trucks and seven water jets were, among other things, involved in a firefighting campaign, adding that it had been marked as a 3rd (major) fire.
Officials say the injured were taken to three nearby hospitals – five people died from injuries at Nair Hospital, one died at Kasturba Hospital and another patient died at Batia Hospital.
BJP leader Priti Gandhi shared a video clip on Twitter about the incident, saying, “As usual, excuses will be made, incomprehensible reasons will be made and life will continue. Strong political will is needed if the city is to survive. Like Mumbaikar, the pain of unresponsiveness !!”
It is a tragic incident, said Maharashtra BJP president and MP Mangal Prabhat Lodha.