14 DIE AS EATERY PLAYS WITH FIRE
ROOFTOP RESTAURANT partners untraceable; face culpable homicide charge; junior civic officials suspended; CM orders city-wide safety audit and demolition
Fire juggler’s antics at b’day bash turn fatal
The midnight of Thursday will be etched in the collective consciousness of Mumbaikar as one of the most harrowing nights after the 2008 terror attack. A fire juggler’s antics went awry while Khushboo Jayesh Bansali, 29, from Tardeo, was celebrating her birthday at a trendy rooftop restaurant with a group of friends.
The flaming bottle fell on the alcohol stock at the bar which soon became a bonfire. The billowing flames sent Khushi and her friends scurrying into the washroom, where the toxic smoke snuffed out their lives. Eleven of the 14 who died were women, mostly in their twenties and early thirties. 55 others were injured.
"When the flaming bottle fell on the alcohol stock a blaze erupted which spread in the nick of time, duly abetted by the midnight breeze," said one of the security guards who did not wished to be named. Within seconds the fire had engulfed the two adjacent roof top restaurants -- "1 Above" pub on the terrace and Mojo Bristo on the third floor one level below, gutting in no time the makeshift roof made of tarpaulin and bamboo sticks.
“Almost all the victims died due to smoke inhalation; most of them didn’t even have 10% burn injuries,” said Dr Rajesh Dhere, senior forensic expert from the hospital.
The two gutted pubs are located in the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel area, a popular night spot as well as commercial hub housing several offices, including national television channels. ‘‘I was in the night shift. We heard people screaming at the pub. Initially, we thought it was the usual merrymaking at the party," said Sanjay Jadhav, a producer of a news channel. "When I came out of my office, I saw that a fire had broken out on the roof.’’
A senior food and beverages manager of a restaurant in the vicinity, who like many others rushed to the spot, told FPJ, “Many youngsters took refuge in the washroom by locking themselves inside. The exhaust was not working as the power was switched off. The kids were choked to death by the toxic fumes.” There were nearly 250 guests in the two pubs running helter-skelter searching for the sole exit which was not demarcated. Access to yet another exit door was impeded by material stacked outside. It was finally prised open by security guards who showed great presence of mind. Most survivors were ushered out of this door.
Dr Sulabha Arora, who was present at the spot, said, “The fire engulfed the whole place in a matter of seconds. In the confusion, none could figure out where the fire exits were. Nor was there any time to reach out to anyone.”
Incidentally, the pub manager and the staff, too, had no idea how to handle the crisis. So, there was no one to take charge of the situation and usher the guests down the narrow staircase. What ensued was a stampede. ‘‘People were falling over me even as the ceiling came hurtling down in flames," a survivor said in a tweet. "I still don't know how I got out alive."
More than 12 fire tenders were rushed which doused the blaze at 6.30 a.m. It took nearly 45 minutes to an hour for the fire tenders and ambulances to reach the spot. Relatives of the deceased have expressed shock over the sluggish response of the fire service. “It at least 45 minutes to one hour for the agencies to reach the spot. My daughter’s best friend died because of the criminal delay,’’ said Vallabh Mehta, father of Neha Jain, Khushboo’s friend.
Moreover, Mehta said, the ambulances were not stacked with oxygen. Birthday girl Khushboo had fallen unconscious and was rushed to King Edward Memorial hospital. “Had there been oxygen supply in the ambulance, it may have helped revive her,” said Mehta.
The BMC has initiated an inquiry and five junior officials have been suspended.
Of the 55 injured, 14 are still in Bhatia Hospital.