Even as the residents of a building in Bhiwandi woke up to a blaze caused by a short circuit in a powerloom, all were rescued in the nick of time, courtesy of fire officials and Good Samaritans
Residents of Rahat Manzil in Bhiwandi woke up engulfed in fire and smoke yesterday morning. Around 200 residents of the building, who were stuck in the afire premises, made their way to the building terrace, where firemen and other locals safely rescued them. Around six people were reported injured in the incident, including two fire officials and a local, who helped in the rescue operation.
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The fire started at around 6:30 am on the ground floor due to a short circuit. Around 7 am, water tankers and more than 10 fire engines with other private tankers from Thane, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar fire stations reached the spot for the rescue operation. Pics/Datta Kumbhar
The fire broke out at Rahat Manzil in Kasimpura Nagaon in Bhiwandi. “Rahat Manzil is a ground plus four-storey building, which houses a power loom on the ground floor, with its office on the first floor. The building has a total of 72 rooms, from which 63 on the second, third and fourth floors were occupied by around 185 residents.
Locals from the area also helped fire officials in the operation
“We suspect the fire occurred due to a short circuit and later, the huge quantity of clothes kept on the first floor caught fire, trapping the residents. Most of them were safely rescued from the building without any injuries,” said Vaishali Lambhate, Tehsildar, Bhiwandi.
Short circuit
The fire started at around 6:30 am on the ground floor due to a short circuit. Around 7 am, water tankers and more than 10 fire engines with other private tankers from Thane, Kalyan and Ulhasnagar fire stations reached the spot for the rescue operation. “Within half an hour, we rescued four people and later till 11 am, we rescued around 50 others, who were stuck on the terrace of the building. More than 100 people were saved from the terrace with the help of hydraulic staircase,” said Datta Salvi, Chief Fire Officer of the Bhiwandi fire station.
Salvi added, “The narrow lanes adjoining the building resulted in problems during the rescue operation. After the fire broke out, most of the residents who got to know about it earlier came out through the staircase, while others who were trapped in the smoke, went on the terrace for safety.” The rescue operation was completed by 11:30 am.
Fire officials Kantilal Gujar and Kamlakar Tanat are among the six people injured in the fire. They suffocated in the smoke resulting from the blaze. Shakila Khan, a resident fell unconscious because of the smoke. Locals Mohammed Yasin Qureshi, Afaq Ansari and Guddu, who were helping in the fire, were injured when the shutter they were standing on to throw the shutter key gave way. “All of them were shifted to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital for treatment and were later discharged,” said a fire official.
DCP says
Sudhir Dabhade, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhiwandi said, “It was a major fire. The locals supported the fire officials a lot in the rescue operation. Our policemen were controlling the mob. During the investigation, we found that the owner, builder Saeed Ansari, had made a power loom in the building. We suspect his negligence to be the cause and are further investigating the matter.” He added, “Also, he kept inflammable substance on the first floor of the building, which was dangerous and resulted in the huge fire. We will register a case against him accordingly.”
Israr Ansari (24), a resident said, “A lack of water crisis resulted in the fire rising again and again. The oil in clothes also added to the fire. The fire first was taken under control within an hour, but due to lack of water, it started again. We appeal to the authorities to accommodate the residents as early as possible.”
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