On b’day, Khushboo’s life went up in smoke

The most tragic face of the fire mishap was Khushboo Bansali, a 28year-old young and vivacious girl who was with her buddies celebrating life and birthday when fate made a rude intervention. Good friend Kinjal died with her but Neha survived.

When the fire broke out, guests pushed the three girls towards the wash room, where they were advised to take refuge. However, the power had tripped and there was no exhaust; outside, flames were bellowing and smoke filtered into the locked washroom. With no vents on the premises, it became a lethal gas chamber where the young lives were snuffed out. Both Khushboo and Kinjal were literally choked to death. Khushboo was accompanied to the pub by her husband Jayesh, who made good his escape.

Khushboo and Kinjal had taken refuge in washroom along with Neha; latter tried to make them leave but they would not budge. Both choked to death as smoke filtered into the washroom. Neha survived to tell the tale.

Since it was pitch dark, there was a mad scramble for the exit. Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Vallabh Mehta (56), Neha’s father said, “When the fire broke out, my daughter and her friends were hustled inside the wash room. It was a scary situation as gas cylinders were stacked on the staircase leading to 1Above, which could have caused a bigger tragedy.”

Mehta says Neha was inside the wash room for half an hour. “She gave a helping hand to Khushboo and Kinjal and tried to convince them to move out. However, the duo refused to budge. They feared that they would be killed if they stirred out of the washroom.’’ Neha was lucky: she, too, was hit by the toxic smoke, rushed to Reliance hospital and returned home the same night. Speaking to the Free Press Journal, Sanjay Bansali, Khushboo’s brother-in-law said, “Khushboo’s mobile phone was inside a clutch. She had lost the clutch in the panic. Kinjal had, however, managed to ring up her husband and informed them that the three ladies were trapped inside the bathroom. But when we reached there, it was too late to save the birthday girl.”

“The fire brigade officials and the police reached the spot after a delay of 45 minutes to one hour. Khushboo was unconscious when she was rushed to King Edward Memorial hospital,” said Sanghvi. “It is only because of the failure of the municipal corporation, the police, the fire department and the restaurant owners that my granddaughter and her friend lost their lives,” said a grieving Babulal Mehta, Khushboo’s grandfather, who came to KEM Hospital looking for her.

“There was no ventilation, none of the fire equipment was working, how can BMC allow a makeshift bamboo shade which can easily catch fire,” demanded Mehta.

Forensic experts said that bodies of the two friends were located in the washroom of the hospital and both died due to asphyxia. “Both women had 5% burn injuries which indicated that they were not exposed to the flames. Lack of oxygen in the blood, due to lack of ventilation and fresh air, resulted in their death,” said forensic experts.