Short circuit, not arson, caused blaze

The report for the February 19 fire at Borivli’s Goyal Shopping Centre has ruled out arson. Investigators found evidence to suggest a short circuit had caused the fire.

The report for the February 19 fire at Borivli’s Goyal Shopping Centre has ruled out arson. Investigators found evidence to suggest a short circuit had caused the fire.

HT Image

One fire officer had died in the blaze. “What was probably a catalyst for the blaze was the fact that the wiring in the shopping centre was shoddy, with knotted live wires hanging out of most nooks and corners,” said deputy chief fire officer AN Shinde.

The list of “breach of fire” norms that Shinde described is long. “The shopping centre, built in 1982, did not have a no-objection certificate from the fire department,” he said. “The plans for the centre show that the basement was only authorised for storage, but actually housed more than 60 shops.”

“We will send a notice (as per the new Fire Safety Act) and no NOC will be issued until the shopping centre meets the minimum safety norms,” he said.