BMC, fire brigade to check Sadhana Mills for violations

It was among several establishments who were issued safety guidelines 10 days ago

Scorched: The damaged premises of the building in Sadhana Mills Compound that caught fire on Saturday evening.

Sadhana Mills in Worli, where a drug manufacturing unit caught fire on Saturday, had been issued a set of fire safety advisories only 10 days ago. The local municipal office had been sending these advisories to every establishment in their area.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Fire Brigade are now inspecting if Sadhana Mills had followed the advisories. Meanwhile, all the 12 firemen hospitalised for smoke inhalation, have been discharged.

Officials said the fire broke out in Reliance Life Sciences Lab, which manufactures and stores life-saving drugs, on the ground floor of the industrial estate on Saturday evening. The flames, coupled with the drugs and chemicals stored in the sprawling 4,000-sq.ft. lab, led to dense smoke.

Firemen discharged

About 14 fire engines were sent to the spot, and the BMC had to pull down the adjacent walls to ensure access from all sides for the firefighting equipment. The fire was brought under control only at 12.30 a.m. The chemical-laden smoke landed 12 firemen in the hospital due to suffocation. Four more fire brigade personnel had been treated and discharged by doctors at the site itself late on Saturday night.

“They have all been discharged now and are fine. The biggest challenge was the chemicals stored inside the lab that gave rise to dense smoke. The core team was wearing the breathing apparatus, but the Tier-II team was not. They are the ones who got affected. We will inspect the premises to look for compliance, but their risers were functional,” P.S. Rahangdale, chief fire officer, said on Sunday.

Safety advisory

On December 18, an officer of the G South ward office had written to the Sadhana Mills Compound and other establishments, asking the owners to ensure fire compliance. The letter included several guidelines, such as not blocking common passages, entrances, exits and staircases; taking precautionary measures while dealing with hazardous and flammable material; ensuring there are no loose wires; carrying out electrical audits, and removing unauthorised construction.

The officer further said that if the recipient establishment did not comply with instructions, the BMC would not be responsible for any mishap on their premises.

When asked if the premises were compliant with these guidelines, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G South ward Devendrakumar Jain said: “We are inspecting the premises.”