12 dead in cylinder blast at illegal shop in Mumbai
Twelve workers were killed and one injured after a major fire broke out at an illegal snack-making unit at Sakinaka in Andheri (East) around 4.15 am on Monday, causing its ground floor to collapse minutes later.
Around 4.17 am, three fire engines, four jumbo water tankers and an ambulance were sent to the shop on Khairani Road at Makhariya Compound. They pulled out the victims, who were unable to escape after the shop’s glass door jammed, from under the rubble between 8:15 am and 9:30 am — nearly four hours later.
“A large quantity of eatables, three large diesel stoves and LPG gas cylinders were stocked inside the shop. This led to massive amounts of smoke after the fire,” said fire brigade official.
Fire brigade officials said the unit doubled up as living quarters for 20 migrant workers from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Nepal.
Following the blast, seven ran out, while 20 -year-old Akhilesh Tiwari escaped by jumping from the loft window, 20 feet above the ground. He fractured both legs and was admitted to Rajawadi Hospital’s trauma ward.
A family of three living in a 30x80-square-foot room on the ground floor also survived unhurt. “I was at work when the fire broke out. My brother and mother fled as soon as they heard the blast,” said Tejas Pawar.
Locals said the commercial unit being run from the structure was set up a year-and-a-half ago. Officials, however, said it was illegal. “The civic body had not received an application requesting permission to operate a shop of small-scale factory here,” said Ajitkumar Ambi, assistant municipal commissioner, L ward.
Civic officials added that the area had been a declared a slum and protected under the Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971.