Mumbai,
A major fire broke out in British era ground-plus-five story Kothari building ( also known as the Light Of Asia) Fort, around 4.30 am on Saturday. No one sustained any serious injury in the incident.
According to reports, the building was unoccupied And one of its portions fell down during the firefighting operation.
Officials stated that serious tragedy averted as a group of firemen involved in firefighting operation had moved to a safe distance just before the portion of the building collapsed on the two fire vehicles where they were standing.
Two firemen on a ladder sustained minor injuries in the incident and were admitted to a hospital.
Fire official said that no one was trapped inside the building. Firemen had put 16 fire engines into firefighting operation to ensure that it should not spread in neighboring buildings. They managed to control the fire after three hours of struggle.
#UPDATE: The Level-3 fire that broke inside Patel Chambers in Mumbai's Fort area has now become a Level-4 fire. 18 Fire tenders present at the spot. 2 Fire officials injured as a part of the building collapsed, while they were dousing the fire. pic.twitter.com/W1dvwlEx85
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2018
It was a C-1 category (most dangerous) building and the state government authority, Mhada had vacated the premises four years ago. Such buildings need to be demolished for reconstruction. There is no clarity why Mhada failed to demolish the dangerous structure in last four years, putting lives of thousands of pedestrians in danger who passes from the building regularly.
There were gaps between the building’s pillars and the shops on its ground floor. The gap between the shops and the pillars were used as a temporary footpath by pedestrians and hawkers.
