Mumbai developer's 2-year-old child dies in arms of nanny in house fire likely caused by ‘iron box’

Abir Siddharth Vatavia, the 2.5 year-old, died in the arms of his nanny on Tuesday, 23-year-old Ankita Chetri, who had sought refuge in the bathroom.

The child of a developer died on Tuesday night in a fire suspected to have started from an iron box. The Vile Parle building where he fire flared up was constructed by the toddler’s own family.

The mishap occurred at the 11-storied Shanta Bhuvan CHS Ltd on Baptista Road at Vile Parle West. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

Abir Siddharth Vatavia, the 2.5 year-old, died in the arms of his nanny, 23-year-old Ankita Chetri, who had sought refuge in the bathroom, hoping to escape the flames. “The maid and child would both have been saved, had she not bolted herself in the bathroom due to fear,” said assistant divisional fire officer Prakash Sakpal.

Toddler found dead in bathroom

The mishap occurred at the 11-storied Shanta Bhuvan CHS Ltd on Baptista Road at Vile Parle West. Eight others were injured in the fire including three members of the Vatavia family: patriarch Hiren Vatavia, 64, his younger son Parth Vatavia, 32 and Parth’s wife Yashasvi Vatavia, 33. Residents said that Abir’s sister Amyra, aged about five, was rescued by her grandfather. Abir’s parents were not at home during the incident.

A neighbour, Abhishek Agarwal, the building watchman, Shivam Dwivedi and a fire brigade employee Manoj Sonawane also suffered injuries.

The fire personnel said the fire was confined to the electric wiring, electric installation, AC Unit, household articles, sofa, bed, false ceiling and kitchen utensils in the 4,000 sq-ft double flat on the 11th floor. It was extinguished at 1 am. “The family told us that it started from an iron box in the hall and spread subsequently. We are investigating this,” said Sakpal.

Security lacked firefighting training

Additional municipal commissioner (western suburbs) Dr Vipin Sharma, who visited the spot, said that though the fire-fighting system in the building was functional, no one knew how to operate it except two people in the building. The building had been recently redeveloped and got an occupation certificate in 2020.

Sakpal said that no one knew or guided the firemen to the pump room or fire equipment when the fire brigade reached. “It would have been easier and quicker to fight the fire, had the residents known about it,” he said.

The building’s secretary Ketan Parekh said the security personnel were not trained to operate the fire-fighting system. “Only one watchman knew how to but he was injured,” he said.

However, social activist Rajesh Mehta had a different reasoning. “All the buildings in this area fall under the airport funnel zone and hence face height restrictions,” he said. “Because of this, buildings here do not have overhead water tanks and instead are dependent on boosters to carry the water upwards. With no electricity to carry the water, since the electricity supply had been shut off due to the fire, the water sprinklers did not get activated.”

Meanwhile, Ankita, the domestic help who died, was the only earning member of her family, said Nipa Vora, a resident of the neighbouring building who knew her. “She was working to support her family after her mother lost her eyesight and her father was confined to home due to health issues,” she said. “Her elder brother passed away last year and she has two younger sisters.”