Eight killed, 40 injured as massive fire breaks out at Goregaon building in Mumbai: Latest updates

Out of the 51 injured, 36 were sent to Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College (HBT) hospital, while 15 were being treated at Cooper Hospital.

At least eight people were killed, while five others are in critical condition after a fire broke out at a seven-storey residential building in the Mumbai suburb of Goregaon West around 3:05am on Friday. Around 61 people have been injured in the fire.

Fire occured at level two.

As per officials, the fire spread through shops on the ground flood, scrap material, several parked vehicles, meter cabin, rags, plywood along with other materials on the ground floor, staircase and household articles including doors, windows, furniture in about 2000 sq.ft area.

People were stranded on various floors including the terrace.

Here are the latest updates:

• Out of the 61 injured, 36 were sent to Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Medical College (HBT) hospital, while 15 were being treated at Cooper Hospital. Among these, four seriously injured patients will soon be shifted to Kasturba hospital.
• 15 people, among the injured, are undergoing treatment in the ICU.
• Among the dead are — two minors, three women and one man.
• Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar said that the building was constructed in 2006 under the Slum Rehabilitation scheme and had no fire fighting system. The lift was old and significant amount of smoke travelled through lift duct.
• As per officials, the fire was reported at Jay Bhavani building located on Goregaon's MG road.
• The fire was extinguished after nearly four hours, around 6:54am.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of victims and announced ₹2 lakhs for the kin of victims and ₹50,000 for injured. He said, “Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire mishap in Mumbai's Goregaon. Condolences to the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”
• President Droupadi Murmu expressed grief over the loss of life. She said, “The news of the death of several people, including children and women, in an unfortunate incident of fire in a building in Goregaon area of ​​Mumbai is extremely saddening. I express my condolences to all the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”
• Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde said, “I am continuously talking with Municipal Commissioner and Police…What happened is unfortunate. I express my condolences to those who died. The government will provide monetary help of ₹5 lakhs to their families... Those who are injured will be given treatment by the government.”
• Maharashtra's Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on X, formerly Twitter, “Pained to know about loss of lives in the fire incident at Goregaon, Mumbai. We are in touch with BMC & Mumbai Police officials & all the assistance is being provided. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and wishing speedy recovery to the injured ones.”
• Goregaon MLA Vidya Thakur said that the reason behind the fire breaking out was yet to be ascertained. “The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained. Due to prevailing smoke, people could not get out of the building and they moved to terrace. 7 deaths are confirmed as of now. Efforts are underway to provide relief to affected families.”
• MLA Thakur said that the families from the building were moved to a temporary shelter at a nearby school. “We will assist in restoring the power supply. I request the government to investigate the incident thoroughly,” she added.
• Guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha reached HBT hospital to meet the victims and take stock of the situation. Lodha said that the incident will be investigated throughly.
• A high level committee — consisting Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and fire officials — to be formed and submit a report in the next 15 days, said Maharashtra minister Lodha.
• Primary report suggested that there was a clothes and scrap godown on the ground floor where the fire broke out, MP Lodha said.
• One of the relatives of a victim claimed that fire spread due to a short circuit. He said, “Our family members and relatives were there. My aunt has died. A short circuit occurred at around 1.30 am and then the fire spread... The fire spread to the 7th floor... From our family, one dead body is with them, they said they will hand it over in an hour.”
• Another victim's relative said that her family did not find out about the fire until 8am on Friday. She lost two relatives to the fire. “A relative of a victim says, "We came to know about the fire at 8 am... When we came and checked here, we came to know that my sister-in-law and a daughter from our family had died... A lot of people have been injured, and two people from my family have died.”
• Actor Manish Chaturvedi, an eyewitness of the incident, told news agency ANI, “The incident occurred 2.30 am-3 am. I had returned from a party around 1.30 am and was sleeping. Suddenly, around 2.45 am I could sense a burning smell in the air. I woke up and first searched my room. I then woke my brother up. We then saw the smoke rising...We then called up the fire brigade. I was able to place a call at 3.06 am but there was no response from the other side...I think had they been alert the loss would not have been this much. Police did arrive on time...The situation was very heart-rending.”
• Eights fire engines, five jumbo water tankers, three automatic turn tables, one turn table ladder, a quick response vehicle and an ambulance were rushed to the spot. Ladders and Breathing Apparatus Set (BA Sets) were used in the rescue process.
• Deputy Chief Fire Officer, District Fire Officer, Assistant Divisional Fire Officer, three Senior Station Officers and three Station Officers, Assistant Commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials and NGO personnel were present at the spot of the incident.