It was a sure recipe for disaster

The two pubs in Kamla Mill compound – '1 above pub' and the other 'Mojo Bristo' -which were gutted, did not have any fire-fighting equipment; the pubs had also violated regulations by making provision for a narrow stair case, the only possible route from where the guests could have escaped. Even this exit was not clearly demarcated and led to a door which the security had a hard time trying to prise open. The narrow passage also made fire-fighting extremely difficult, said the fire officials.

To aggravate matters, the makeshift roof of '1 above pub' was made of tarpaulin sheets and bamboo sticks, both highly combustible. No wonder, the fire spread in seconds. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

Prashant Sapkale, the Assistant Commissioner of Lower Parel ward, has initiated legal action against the management for usurping the open space and using it for commercial activities. "On August 2, we had razed a portion of the pub which was an encroachment on open space. Thereafter, on October 22, we seized the open space, where the management was

illegally catering to the guests. Despite that, the owners indulged in violations," said Sapkale.

The Free Press Journal reporter visited the fire site and found a dark, narrow passage leading to the pub. It is no wonder, the people could not find it in the dark in the absence of clear-cut signs. The 1Above had received several notices from BMC for encroachment of open space and illegal construction on the terrace. The structural changes had been removed prior to this incident. But these encroachments came to light once again after the fire on Friday morning. BMC had also issued notices, warning them against misuse of the open space around the building on a few other occasions.

Wiser after the disaster, the BMC is going to initiate a roving inquiry with all restaurants and pubs in the compound under its scanner – there are some 40 or 50 of them. Other rooftop restaurants located the compound -- 'Sky Blue Cafe' and 'Verbana' -- were demolished on Friday for violation of open space.