Fire leaves 58 families without homes, belongings
Survivors want police, fire brigade, BMC to clarify when they can return home; for now, families count on relatives and friends for help
MUMBAI: After the fire at Crystal Towers in Parel was doused and the residents from 58 flats rescued on Wednesday, their next concern was to find a place to spend the night, or even perhaps days. Most of them called up their friends or families to find temporary accommodation.
About 30 families were seen roaming around the building at 5pm, hoping that the fire brigade and police would allow them to enter it and take a few personal belongings such as clothes.
There has been no official communication from either the fire brigade or police as when they would be allowed to return to their homes. Moreover, the vacation order was unofficial.
This has put residents in a fix. They are undecided whether to rent a new house or temporarily live with their relatives. Devashri Kawthankar, who has been living on the 10th floor for three years, said, “We are now homeless and are being punished for the faults of the builder and BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), who were very well aware that the building was not fire compliant. If we are not allowed to get inside our homes till evening, we will have to find a place to stay temporarily — may be with our relatives.”
Urmitl Pandya, 26, who lives on the 7th floor, was among the survivors. He said that he was counting on his friend to spend the night.
“I am living here as a tenant. We have not been told anything whether we would be allowed to enter the building. There are rumours that we might be barred from entering the building for some time. If this is the case, I will have to find a place to live with my friend.”
Advocate Jayashri Sadavarte, who received minor burns on the face, said she had to buy clothes because she was wearing night clothes during the escape.
“Since morning, we have been roaming around with no confirmation (about returning to their home). I had to even buy some clothes. It is already evening, and not a single BMC officer has come to see the site. I have informed my relatives that we might have to come to their place to spend the night. We will decide the rest later.”
As a temporary accommodation, some residents sought shelter in the nearby Tulsi Maanas Mandir Trust School, for wash- room and other purposes. Smriti Turrey, a tenant in the building for two and a half months, said: “I will stay with my cousin today and my flatmate with her friend.”
Four people were killed in the fire.