Fourteen persons, including a young woman celebrating her birthday, were asphyxiated, and at least 23 others injured in a major fire that engulfed a pub and other establishments in Mumbai.
According to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Control, the blaze reportedly broke around 12.30 am from a bistro The Mojo, a rooftop restaurant in The Kamla Trade House, a posh business-cum-entertainment hub in Lower Parel area of south-central Mumbai.
The flames quickly spread to another adjacent pub and a restaurant, all housed in the Kamla Mills Compound, virtually trapping over 200 people on the premises.
The tragedy has cast a shadow on the upcoming New Year 2018 celebrations in the maximum city renowned for its varied nightlife, late-night parties, and outings.
Among the victims was Khushboo Jayesh Bhansali, 29, from Tardeo, who was celebrating her birthday at the restaurant with a group of friends, her family members confirmed.
The BMC official said more than 12 fire tenders were rushed to fight the blaze which was finally extinguished around 6.30 a.m when the full impact of the disaster it wrought came to light.
While the majority of the victims were reported to have died on the spot, the firemen were able to rescue 10 people. The entire pub and the surrounding complex was full of patrons, including many women and tourists thronging the fashionable area to unwind.
Mumbai Police have booked the owner of an adjoining pub for negligence and culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The injured have been admitted to the KEM Hospital, Bhatia Hospital, Airoli Burns Hospital, while two with minor injuries were taken to Sion Hospital where they were treated and discharged.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have expressed grief over the incident.
N.M. Joshi Marg Police have identified the victims as Vishwa Jayant Lalani, 22, brother Dhairya Jayant Lalani, 26 (Matunga east), and Serbjeet R. Pereira, 23, (Santacruz East).
Besides Bhansali, the birthday girl, the other women victims were Yasha Alaap Thakker, 22 (visiting from Ahmedabad); Premila Laxmichand Kenia, 70, (Dadar East); Parul Rakesh Lakdawala, 49, (Kemp’s Corner); Tejal Bhaven Gandhi, 36 (Ghatkopar East);
The victims also included Kavita Piyush Dharani, 36 (Ghatkopar East); Prachi Mahendra Khetani-Seth, 30 (Vile Parle west); Priti Rajesh Rajgadiya, 49 (Worli); Shefali Pranav Doshi, 45, (Mahalaxmi); Kinjal Jayesh Mehta-Shah, 28 (Khetwadi) and Manisha Nimesh Shah, 47, (Malabar Hill).
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