Malad’s MHADA building fire leaves mother, daughter seriously injured

A fire broke out in a ground plus six-storeyed building named Sai Sadan of Malavani Malad early morning at 6:43 am on Thursday. The fire confined first into the accumulated Liquidified Gas (LG), and later spread to cloths, curtains, electric wiring and other electric installation on the sixth floor of the building occupied by Shaikh family. Two members of the family named Nilofer Shaikh 32 years old woman and Iqra Shaikh sixyear-old girl both mother and daughter sustained severe burn injuries.

As per the fire brigade officials information, the residents of the building helped to douse the fire before they reached the spot. The locals controlled the fire by pouring buckets of water after disconnecting the electric supply to protect the people from electrocution. While according to the preliminary information fire triggered due top gas leakage and also due to small narrow space in the house the two people stuck could not easily come out and therefore sustained injuries, though the fire was minor (level 1).

A fire official said, “Even gas leaked from a cylinder can cause a blast if it comes in contact with a spark or a person switches on the lights. For such a blast to occur, the gas must have been leaking for some time. It is a small house so the residents may not have got ample time to escape.”

The two were initially rushed to Care hospital, Malad, by their neighbours. Malad Care hospital Doctor said both the patients are stable but a six-year-old girl is kept under observation. “Later they were shifted to Masina hospital for further treatment as both were in critical condition,” said Dr Azar Ali from Care Hospital. Dr Dhaval Gandhi burns expert at Masina Hospital who is treating the mother and daughter said that prima facie, both have sustained severe second-degree burn injuries but initial wound treatment and dressing would offer a clearer picture about their condition.