A massive fire broke out on Thursday afternoon at the Behrampada slums area right outside the Bandra Railway Station in Mumbai during a demolition drive by the civic authorities.
Here are the updates:
7.15 p.m.: "Situation is mostly under control. Waiting and watching for another 30 minutes. Don't know of any casualties barring minor injuries to one fireman. Firefighting is being done on all sides," said Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade, P.S. Rahangdale.
"Had to be very cautious as there were multiple cylinder blasts and few ways of exiting. 16 fire engines and 10 water tankers are in use."
7.00 p.m.: According to the BMC Disaster Control, 16 fire tenders and 17 water tankers were rushed to the spot of the blaze in Behrampada slums in Bandra east to douse the flames, the thick black smoke from which was visible for several kilometres.
The authorities also blocked commuters from using the skywalk near the station, while a massive traffic jam was witnessed on the Western Express Highway, reports IANS.
5.10 p.m.: One fireman injured. Traffic on the Harbour Line is restored.
5.00 p.m.: Railway authorities have stopped the up and down movement of local trains on the Harbour Line at Bandra station due to the proximity of the Harbour Line track to the site of the fire. Apart from scorching scores of huts in the slum, the fire also affected some parts of the skywalk passing overhead.
Google Maps image locates the Bandra Railway Station, the Bandra East to West FoB and Bandra East Skywalk.
4.50 p.m.: Mumbai Fire Brigade officials said that they received a call about the fire at 3.18 p.m., and by 4.20 p.m., the fire was declared a Level IV disaster, the second most serious category in disaster management.
Mumbai Fire Brigade vehicles at the Behrampada area, where a massive fire broke out on October 26, 2017, near Bandra Railway Station in Mumbai.
“Officials of the H-East ward were demolishing some illegal structures in the slum when the fire broke out. Prima facie, a cylinder blast is believed to have triggered the fire,” said an officer with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. At least two more cylinders are suspected to have exploded after the initial blast, and concerns are being expressed about the blaze worsening as a lot more domestic LPG cylinders could be present in the tightly packed slum.
“Sixteen fire tenders and 12 water tankers are currently at the spot, and the fire fighting operation is underway,” said Chief Fire Officer P.S. Rahangdale, Mumbai Fire Brigade.
