FIRE DEPARTMENT’S REPORT ON KAMALA MILLS FIRE
WHAT THE FIRE DEPT REPORT STATED
The 14 victims were patrons of 1Above. They mostly consisted of two groups
‘Flying embers’ or hot coal from the hookah, which came in contact with combustible cloth curtains at Mojo’s, rapidly spread to an unauthorised thatched roof at 1Above
Both restaurants had large stock of combustible hookah material and burning charcoal, combustible material used in furniture and decorations
There was a stock of burnt charcoal, hookah, standpipes, and pedestal fans at Mojo Bistro
The building had 14 unauthorised trades and structures, including ‘fire tricks’ performed by bartenders and charged CO2 gas cylinders on the terrace
A large stock of beer bottles, beer kegs on terrace and staircase blocked the escape and exit routes
There were alterations made to the third floor where the restaurants were situated
Fire-fighting systems such as sprinklers, fire alarm were defunct
THE INQUIRY COMMITTEE
The Bombay high court had appointed a three-member committee to look into the incident. The committee was headed by Justice AV Savant, a retired chief justice of Kerala high court and included retired bureaucrat K Nalinakshan and architect Vasant Thakur
OFFICIALS FACE THE HEAT
Day after the fire, civic chief Ajoy Mehta suspended five officials
An inquiry was conducted into the roles of 12 officials, including the five suspended