A devastating fire erupted early Sunday morning in the Pann Ali Mansion, a nine-story building located near Ram Mandir in Mumbai’s Masjid Bunder area. The blaze resulted in the deaths of two women and left five others injured.
Incident Overview
The fire started at approximately 6:11 am in the meter room on the ground floor of Pann Ali Mansion. Initial investigations suggest that a short circuit in the electric meter box ignited the blaze. The building’s ground floor housed two shops, with the first three floors used for commercial storage and the upper floors serving as residential units.
Casualties and Injuries
Tragically, two women, Sabiya Alam Shaikh (30) and Sabila Khatun Shaikh (42), lost their lives due to suffocation from the dense smoke. They attempted to escape via the staircase after finding the terrace overcrowded but were overwhelmed by the smoke and lost consciousness on the first floor. They were later declared dead at the hospital.
Five other residents sustained injuries:
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Shah Jiya Shaikh (21)
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Shahin Alam Shaikh (22)
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Nakis Surti (24)
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Sauda Alam Shaikh (48)
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Karim Shaikh (20)
The first four were admitted to JJ Hospital, while Karim Shaikh is recovering at GT Hospital. As of now, three individuals remain hospitalized, and two have been discharged.
Fire Department Response
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Santosh Sawant reported that the fire originated in the meter room, leading to rapid smoke accumulation in the open staircase. The smoke then spread through the lift and staircase shafts, exacerbating the situation. The fire brigade managed to extinguish the blaze by 6:31 am.
Building and Safety Concerns
Residents, visibly shaken and currently without electricity, were hesitant to speak with the media. One tenant mentioned that the building housed 45 families, with varying flat sizes on each floor. A local resident recalled that the site previously contained a scrap godown that was destroyed in a fire, leading to the construction of the current structure.
Fire officials have expressed concerns about the building’s construction, noting that it was built using an I-beam structure. They described it as a “death trap,” especially given its location in the densely populated B Ward, an area known for illegal, closely packed buildings.
Safety Measures and Precautions
This tragic incident underscores the critical importance of adhering to fire safety regulations, especially in densely populated urban areas. Regular maintenance of electrical systems, installation of functional smoke detectors, and ensuring clear evacuation routes are essential measures to prevent such disasters. Residents and building owners must collaborate to conduct periodic safety drills and inspections to identify and rectify potential hazards promptly.
