Major fire guts illegal godowns in Mumbai’s Nagpada building, none hurt

According to civic officials, three commercial godowns were set up illegally in the basement of Zia Apartments.

A major fire gutted three illegal godowns in the basement of a residential building at Nagpada on Friday afternoon. The blaze started in the basement of the seven-storey building, Zia Apartments, and left five people stranded on the above floors before the fire brigade rescued them. Fire officials confirmed that nobody was injured in the incident.

The blaze started in the basement of the seven-storey building, Zia Apartments, and left five people stranded on the above floors before the fire brigade rescued them. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

According to civic officials, three commercial godowns were set up illegally in the basement. Data obtained by HT revealed that residents had complained to civic authorities five years ago about the hazardous material stored in the basement.

“Mobile accessories including batteries, cloth material for sewing and chemicals were stored in the godowns. About 5,000sqm of the basement has been affected in the level III fire,” said a senior fire official.

After resident Shadruddin Siddique complained about the illegality, the fire department in 2013 had written to the BMC to take action. Carrying out any trade activity in the basement is a fire safety hazard, said the letter. The basement with only one entrance/exit was found to be occupied by 40 workers at a time. The BMC was unaware if notices had been sent to the owners of the premises.

Assistant municipal commissioner Sahebrao Gaikwad said, “The owners and employees have disappeared. We will be shutting down the unit after inspection. We are looking for records of any action taken against the structures. However, in the last one month, 189 establishments with fire hazards have been inspected in E ward and notices were sent to 40 of them.”