MUMBAI: At least 15 people were killed and several others injured in India’s financial hub Mumbai in the wee hours of Friday, when a fire broke out in a restaurant and spread to other areas in a multi-storey building.Fire-fighters took at least three hours and more to douse the blaze that leapt up in central Mumbai’s nightlife hub.
Several TV channel offices, including Times Now, Mirror Now, ET Now, located close to the site of the fire were affected. The fire was initially declared as a Level II fire before being upgraded to Level III at 12.42 p.m. as the fire spread.
The injured were rushed to nearby KEM and Sion hospital, where they are being treated.According to BMC disaster management, the fire was brought under control but the toll may rise.The incident has raised concerns over the safety of office-goers in the area, as the fire is believed to have originated from a restaurant and an FIR has also been filed against the owners and managers.
As a result of the fire, telecast of a few TV channels and broadcast of radio stations have stopped.The fire started in the “One Above” restaurant located at the third floor of the building, and soon spread to other restaurants including “Mojo’s Lounge” and a bar situated on the terrace.
There were around 50 people in “One Above” restaurant when the fire broke out. One birthday party was going on in the restaurant. The fire spread rapidly since the restaurants had wooden furniture.
Most of the casualties, including 12 women and two men, occurred due to suffocation.TV reports quoted eye-witnesses as saying that there was a stampede inside the building as people ran down the stairs.
