Parel fire in Mumbai: More residents move back into flats

The flats are without water or power supply.

Three days after a fire killed four at Crystal Tower in Parel, some more residents started to live in their flats in the building on Friday, without water or power supply.

The fire killed four people.

On Wednesday, Rajinder Kapoor and his family were the only ones living in the building. “I got this house under a redevelopment scheme and I will live in my home. Although the cops tried to ask me to leave, I refused to do so,” said Kapoor.

A day later, a few other families joined them. Irshad Qureshi’s family started to clean their fifth floor house and even started to cook. Qureshi said, “We will live in the night too and many others would follow. Our homes are safe just like before.”

Just like the Qureshis, the Shetye family, too, said they would now move into their home. “We are managing with the water that we have and hopefully things will be back on track,” said Iada Shetye. “Things may get back to normal by next week. The problem is mostly for the elderly who can’t climb the stairs or get anyone to take their stuff,” said Rachana Dulani.

Residents have pooled in ₹10,000 each to repair the ducts. They have also bought water bottles of 20 litres to sustain through the day. Politicians visited the building through the day, most promising water and power supply would be restored. PS Rahangdale, chief fire officer, said, “We have asked BMC and police to seal the building. The inquiry report will be completed in the next 2-3 days. Unless the building gets clearance from the fire department, the civic body will not provide any services.”

On Friday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) sent workers to clear debris and clean the mess. Assistant municipal commissioner Kishore Gandhi said, “We had sent labourers to clear the debris as we didn’t want any diseases to spread because of the unhygienic conditions. In 2015, on humanitarian grounds, the hydraulic engineering department started supplying water to the building. Now it is for the department to decide when they will start the water supply.”