Mumbai: Three people were suspected to be missing after a fire destroyed a garment factory at Damu Nagar in Kandivali (East) on Sunday. The fire broke out at M/s Ramlut Garment Factory around 3.30 p.m following which the ground plus one structure collapsed.
The Kandivali fire station and the police were informed. Eight fire engines from Kandivali, Malad, Borivali, Dindoshi, and Goregaon stations were sent to the spot. The fire was brought under control around 6 p.m..
Shabhana Shaikh, a resident, suffered minor injuries to her head after an iron sheet fell on her. Ms. Shaikh was taken to Pulse Hitech Health Services Pvt. Ltd. and was discharged after treatment. The fire brigade are yet to find out the cause of the fire. Officials present at the spot said the blaze spread because of the presence of garment and wooden material at the factory.
Prabhat Rahangdale, chief fire officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade, said, “Inquiries so far indicate there were three workers inside the factory and they are trapped after the incident as learned from the public. The rescue operation is in progress, and we have deployed a JCB excavator to remove the debris.”
Raju Kasbe, senior police inspector, Samata Nagar police station, Kandivali, said they have not been able to identify the missing people as of now. “We are still investigating the matter,” he said.
Efforts to locate the three missing workers were still under way at the time of going to press.
Mahim slum
A fire broke out in a Mahim slum on Sunday evening, injuring two. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. at Ramgad Slum on L J Road, near Raheja Hospital.
The fire was confined to a room. The injured have been identified as Azam Khan (14) and Rehana Khan (50). While the boy was said to be critical with 90%-95% burns, the woman suffered 5%-9% burns and is stable.
Khar saloon
Fire officers said they received a call of a blaze at New Beauty Centre Saloon on SV Road, Juna Khar-Bandra, at 10.18 a.m. No casualties were reported. A fire brigade team was at the spot by 10.33 a.m. By 11.58 a.m., it was declared Level III. An officer said the fire was doused by 2.20 p.m. The two basement levels and the ground plus 7 floor glass façade building were damaged.
The fire was confined to packing material, cosmetic material, electric wiring, electric installation in the first and second basements, and packing material in the loft of the second basement.
“Since the firefighting system of the structure was not in working condition, it was challenging. We used 30-40 breathing apparatus sets, opened the car lift door of the basement, and used exhaust blowers and thermal imaging cameras,” deputy chief fire officer Y.R. Jadhav said. Two small lines of eight fire engines were pressed into operation.
