Fire breaks out in Thane high-rise; firemen evacuate 150 residents

No casualties were reported in the 26-storey building where late NCP leader Vasant Davkhare’s family also lives; fire doused within an hour

Around 150 people were evacuated after fire broke out in a 26-storey residential building in Thane city on Friday afternoon. No one was injured.

Eight fire engines were sent to the Thane high-rise on Friday afternoon after fire broke out. (Praful Gangurde)

The building, Giriraj Heights at Hari Niwas, is home to late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Vasant Davkhare’s family, who were among the residents rescued.

Just a few hours before the fire broke out, former chief minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had visited the Davkhares.

150 residents of the high-rise at Hari Niwas were evacuated safely. Fire department officials said the fire started in the electric duct between the third and fourth floors of the building.

“The fire started in the electric duct between the third and fourth floors and went up to the 26th floor,” said Shashikant Kale, chief fire officer of Thane fire department.

Kale said only two residents had been allowed to remain inside the building — a patient who is on ventilator and his relative. “They are safe on the terrace, and our officers are with them,” he said.

Cooling operations have begun, and there are no casualties, Kale added.

Niranjan Davkhare, MLC and son of the late NCP leader, was on the 25th floor with his family when the fire started. His wife Neelima was not at home. Her sister Shabana Mohammed, who was there, said: “Suddenly, there was a lot of smoke inside the house; we could hardly see anything. We were scared as our eyes started burning and we felt dizzy. But soon, firemen came and guided us out through the fire exit. We climbed down 25 floors.”

This is the second fire to have been reported on Friday. In the wee hours of the morning, there was a huge blaze in an unoccupied, old building in Lower Parel; a fireman suffered minor injuries during fire-fighting, but there were no other casualties.