Fire accident at Kamla Building, Mumbai; 7 dead and many injured

            Around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, a major fire (Level 3) broke out on the 18th floor of the 20-story Kamla building near Bhatia hospital in Mumbai Tardeo, killing seven people and wounding at least 28. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 13 fire engines and five ambulances have been dispatched to the scene. The injured were sent to local hospitals.

The fire broke out at the Kamla building, which is located opposite Gandhi Hospital in Gowalia Tank, when majority of its occupants were still sleeping, according to a BMC official. “When the fire department and police were notified, they hurried to the scene”, he claimed.

Five of the seven injured transported to Nair Hospital died, while two more died from their injuries at two other hospitals – one each in Bhatia and Kasturba – he added. According to the official, 13 people are now being treated at Bhatia Hospital, two at Nair Hospital, and one at Kasturba Hospital.

According to Dr Tina of Bhatia Hospital, 12 of the 15 injured have been taken to the general ward and are stable, while three are critical and have been sent to the intensive care unit.

“As soon as the fire broke out on the 18th floor, people began fleeing with their family members. Each floor has at least six apartments. The fire engulfed the 18th and 19th levels, trapping some occupants”, added another officer. According to several tenants, the building’s electricity supply cut off following the fire. Many of the building’s tenants were asleep when the fire broke out, he added, adding that the firefighting effort is still ongoing.