Vile Parle Fire Kills Woman, Toddler

A devastating fire broke out in an 11-storey building in Vile Parle West, Mumbai, on Tuesday night, claiming the lives of a 23-year-old woman and a two-and-a-half-year-old boy. The fire, which started at around 10 pm, also left six others injured.

The blaze occurred in flat No. 1102 on the top floor of the ground-plus-11-storey Shanta Bhuvan Co-operative Housing Society on Baptista Road, near St Xavier’s School. Fire officials have indicated that an iron press left on clothes for several minutes could have been one of the possible causes of the fire.

According to fire officials, the fire was confined to electrical wiring and installations, an AC unit, household articles, a sofa, bed, false ceiling, and the kitchen, covering an area of around 4,000 square feet. The fire was declared Level-I at 10.08 pm by the Mumbai Fire Brigade and was escalated to Level-II at 10.16 pm.

Firefighting operations continued for nearly three hours before the blaze was brought under control at around 1 am. The Mumbai Fire Brigade deployed 10 fire brigade vehicles to the spot to bring the fire under control.

The two victims were identified as 23-year-old Anikta Chhetri, a househelp and caretaker of the child, and two-and-a-half-year-old Abir. Chhetri had rushed towards the child after the fire spread through the residence but eventually took refuge in a bathroom with Abir as the flames engulfed the flat. Both died due to suffocation.

The flat's owner, 64-year-old Hiren Batavia, was reportedly in the living room when the fire broke out. He managed to rescue his six-year-old granddaughter, Maira, from the flat but sustained minor burn injuries while attempting to re-enter the residence to save Abir and others.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated, with fire officials examining two possible causes: an electrical short circuit involving the AC unit and the iron press left on clothes. The incident has raised concerns about fire safety in high-rise buildings in Mumbai.

The Mumbai Police and fire brigade have been praised for their prompt response to the incident. The incident is a reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need for residents to take precautions to prevent such tragedies.

The fire has also highlighted the need for regular fire safety audits and the importance of having functional fire safety equipment in buildings. The incident is being investigated further to determine the exact cause of the fire and to identify measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

In the meantime, the residents of the building are coming to terms with the tragedy, and the community is rallying around the families affected by the fire. The incident is a sobering reminder of the importance of fire safety and the need for vigilance in preventing such tragedies.