Major fire claims 2 women senior citizens
A fire that broke out at an 11-storeyed building in Ghatkopar in the early hours of Monday, left two elderly women dead and seven injured.
According to the fire brigade officials, the fire took place at Savani Apartments on MG Road at around 2 am. It broke out due to a short-circuit in the meter box on the ground floor and engulfed the entire building in thick layers of black smoke.
It turned out to be fatal for senior citizens Shanta Damani (86) and Nirmala Ajmera (76), as they lost their way in the thick smoke. Severely suffocated, the two women were later rushed by the firemen to the nearby Rajawadi Hospital, where they were declared dead on arrival.
The seven injured — including six from one family — also suffered injuries due to suffocation. They have been admitted to the Rajawadi Hospital. The deceased Nirmala’s son Ravi Ajmera (43) was critical, as he fainted due to suffocation while trying to save his mother. Six from Doshi family – Sheena (53), Rathi (17), Champa (75), Neel (15), Sham (47) and Foram (15) - suffered injuries in the fire.
The building was built in 1976 with each floor having 11 flats. The apartment was undergoing renovation, due to which construction material was found kept in building premises. The material posed as a hurdle in rescue operations.
Hitesh Doshi, who lives on the third floor of the building, said, “Shortly after going off to sleep, we smelt something burning and later it was like as if somebody was lighting firecrackers. We immediately rushed downstairs, while a few others hurried to the terrace. The smoke in no time reached the top floors of the building.”
While the residents said that the building’s fire fighting system was working, the fire officials said that they are still investigating the matter.
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