Mumbai building fire: CM Shinde condoles deaths; announces Rs 5 lakh assistance

Goregaon (Maharashtra) [India], October 6 : Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed grief over the loss of lives in the fire at a building in Goregaon, Mumbai saying that the government will provide monetary help of Rs 5 lakhs to their families.
"I am continuously speaking with Municipal Commissioner and Police... What happened is unfortunate. I express my condolences to those who died. The government will provide monetary help of Rs 5 lakhs to their families. Those who are injured will be given treatment by the government," Maharashtra CM said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an ex-gratio of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
Maharashtra CM Shinde also posted on X (Formerly Twitter) and said that he is in contact with Mumbai Municipal Commissioner and Police Commissioner and also asked Mangal Prabhat Lodha to visit the actual spot.
"Some citizens have lost their lives in the tragic fire that broke out at SRA's Jai Bhawani building in Unnat Nagar, Goregaon. This includes some children. This incident is very unfortunate and I express my condolences to the citizens who lost their lives," Shinde posted on X.
"I have been getting information from Mumbai Municipal Commissioner and Police Commissioner from time to time regarding this fire incident and I have instructed Mumbai Guardian Minister Deepak Kesarkar and Mumbai Suburbs Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha to visit the actual spot," he added.
He further said that the government has announced an aid of Rs 5 lakh to the families of those who died in this incident, and the injured citizens will be given medical treatment.
Eight deaths have so far been reported in the blaze that broke out in Jay Bhavani building in Mumbai's Goregaon building around 3 am in the early hours of Friday.
Calling the incident 'unfortunate', Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that a high-level inquiry committee will be formed which will submit its report within 15 days.
"A high-level inquiry committee will be formed which will submit its report within 15 days. The Maharashtra government will bear all the treatment expenses of all the injured. The Maharashtra government will declare compensation for the deceased by this evening... Best medical facilities would be provided to the injured," Lodha said.

BJP MLA Vidya Thakur also inspected the incident site and said that people will be given financial help for their losses.
"When a fire occurred, the building was filled with smoke. It was nighttime, so people were sleeping. People experience problems because of smoke. It was a big fire, so the people from the Municipal corporation, police, and fire department reached there. Many people were injured, and casualties had occurred. This is an unfortunate incident. There should be an inquiry into this incident. People should be given financial help for their losses. We, along with the Municipal Corporation, have shifted them to a school. We are making arrangements there for their food and living," the BJP MLA added.

An eye-witness to the incident, actor Manish Chaturvedi said, "The incident occurred 2.30 am-3 am. I had returned from a party around 1.30 am and was sleeping. Suddenly, around 2.45 am I could sense a burning smell in the air. I woke up and first searched my room. I then woke my brother up. We then saw the smoke rising...We then called up the fire brigade. I was able to place a call at 3.06 am but there was no response from the other side...I think had they been alert the loss would not have been this much. Police did arrive on time...The situation was very heart-rending."
According to the latest reports, 51 persons were rescued and rushed to the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College and Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital.
Out of the total of 51 injured persons, the condition of five persons has been reported to be critical. Thirty-five persons are being treated for their injuries and four of the injured people have been discharged.
"A short circuit occurred at around 1.30 am and then the fire spread... The fire spread to the 7th floor... From our family, one dead body is with them, they said they will hand it over in an hour," said an eyewitness.

Another victim said that when he came and checked here, he came to know that his sister-in-law and a daughter from his family had died.
"We came to know about the fire at 8 am... When we came and checked here, we came to know that my sister-in-law and a daughter from our family had died... A lot of people have been injured, and two people from my family have died," she said.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the level 2 fire incident was confined to the lower floors of the upper seven-floored residential building having shops on part ground floor. Several vehicles and scrap materials were also gutted in the blaze.
It further said that the building's residents were stranded on the upper floors after the fire broke out and were later rescued.
The fire that broke out around at Jay Bhavani building, on MG Road, near Azad Maidan, was in the Level 2 category, officials informed.
Mumbai civic, police and fire brigade officials are at the spot conducting fire-fighting and rescue operations.