Fires in city high-rises are responsible for 16 deaths in the past four months. The overall death toll due to fires last year was nine. Despite the improved strength of the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) and a relative drop in the number of fire outbreaks and casualties, recent blazes raise questions regarding fire-safety standards in buildings and awareness among citizens.

The MFB’s data shows that between 2019 and 2023, there were 18,746 fire incidents reported in the city, in which 81 lives were lost. On an average, 13 fire incidents are reported every day, and nine are caused by electrical failures. Most, however, are effectively dealt with within an hour.