12 killed, 2 injured in fire, slab collapse in Mumbai

A fire in a shop in Mumbai’s Saki Naka area in Andheri (East) killed at least 12 people, all workers, after it collapsed, officials said on Monday.

The 12 dead were pulled out of the rubble around 8am, after a rescue operation of four hours. The victims, who were declared dead on admission at Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar, have not yet been identified. The two injured have been admitted to a hospital.

The shop, located in Makhariya Compound in Saki Naka, caught fire around 4.15am.

Officials said the fire brigade received a call for help at 4.17am, after which three fire engines, four jumbo water tankers and an ambulance were rushed to the spot.

“The electric wiring and installation, and a huge stock of eatables, furniture and sheets had caught fire,” said a fire brigade official, who did not wish to be named.

The blaze, however, did not spread beyond an area of 60x30 feet in the ground-floor structure, and was doused in 30 minutes. The owner of the shop told officials that 10 to 15 people work in the shop.

Till Monday evening, rescue operations had not been called off.

“Some workers managed to run out and escape before the structure collapsed, but more remaining people may still be trapped. Search operations are going on,” the official said.

Dr Vidya Thakur, medical superintendent, Rajawadi hospital, said: “Twelve patients were pronounced dead on arrival,” she said. A section of Khairani Road was blocked for vehicles, and police officials had diverted traffic to Andheri-Kurla Road. Three fire engines, four jumbo water tankers, rescuers were part of the search operation.

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