Mumbai: Hotel reduced to ashes in massive fire; four hospitalised

The hotel was turned into ashes as the fire engulfed the structure

A massive fire broke out at a hotel in Nalasopara after a hydraulic machine operated by civic officials accidentally uprooted a gas pipeline while widening a drain on Tuesday afternoon. The gas leakage engulfed the Dwarka Hotel on Achole Road, injuring four people. The hotel building was turned into ashes as the fire engulfed the structure in no time.

The incident was triggered after a gas pipeline was damaged

The injured have been identified as Sundar B. Shetty, 62, Gopal S Bangera, 70, Chandra Magarkar, 45, and Raja Kumar Shah, 27. All the injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital with serious burn injuries. "The condition of 70-year-old Bangera is the worst among the injured, with around 60 percent burn injuries," said a source at the hospital.

A fire tender tries to douse the fire

"The incident took place all of a sudden and hence four staff of Dwarka hotel got injured. One of them is a little serious, the others are recuperating at the hospital with 10 to 25 percent burn injuries," said DCP Pournima Chougule-Shringi. When asked if an FIR is registered in connection with the incident, she said, "Some civic work was underway near the hotel when the accident took place. At present, we are conducting the investigation. We are yet to understand how the accident took place. The FIR will be registered after our primary investigation is done. We are taking stock of the situation," she added.

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The fire, followed by a loud blast-like sound, triggered panic among the locals passing by. The hotel runs on the ground floor, whereas the flats are on the first floor. Considering the issue's sensitivity, the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), officials immediately swung into action and multiple fire engines were pressed into service to douse the fire.

One of the four that was injured in the fire. Pics/Hanif Patel

Local sources said, "VVCMC officials have been recklessly digging roads, and widening drains without following the guidelines. The private contractors violate all the rules and regulations because the civic officials are absent from the spot where such developmental work takes place," said a source.

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