Four people were killed and at least 10 others were injured as a fire engulfed three floors of residential building in Navi Mumbai’s Vashi early Tuesday morning, prompting a multi-agency rescue and firefighting operation that lasted several hours.
Police said the fire started shortly after midnight on the 10th floor of Raheja Tower and quickly spread to the 11th and 12th floors. Firefighters from Vashi, Airoli, Nerul, and Koparkhairane fire stations were rushed to the spot.
“The fire has been brought under control, and cooling operations are underway. Four people were found dead on the 10th floor, and the bodies were sent to hospitals. Around 10 to 15 other residents were rescued safely,” said Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) chief fire officer Purushottam Jadhav.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. “A detailed investigation is underway to ascertain whether the incident was caused by an electrical fault, gas leak, or any other reason,” he said. The cooling operations continued until morning to prevent re-ignition.