Four fire engines, four jumbo water tankers, an ambulance, and police personnel rushed to the scene to manage the situation
A fire broke out in a sixth-floor apartment of Fortune Enclave, a 15-storey residential building in Bandra West, early on Tuesday morning, creating chaos among residents as thick smoke engulfed the premises.
The blaze, reported at approximately 1 am, originated in a bedroom, with initial investigations suggesting it was caused by a faulty electrical system, according to an official from the Mumbai Fire Brigade. Although the fire was not extensive, the resulting smog caused widespread panic, prompting several residents to evacuate the building.
Emergency Response
Four fire engines, four jumbo water tankers, an ambulance, and police personnel rushed to the scene to manage the situation. Firefighters successfully evacuated nine people, including eight women and one man, stranded on the 15th floor, using the building’s staircase.
An 80-year-old woman was found unconscious during the rescue operation and was immediately transported to Bhabha Hospital in Bandra. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) confirmed her condition as stable.
Building Safety Concerns
Officials revealed that the building’s inbuilt firefighting system was non-functional at the time of the incident, raising concerns about safety compliance. “Several residents were evacuated using the staircase. The inbuilt firefighting system of the building was not working,” an officer from the fire brigade said.
The affected building, 418 Fortune Enclave, is located on 14th Road in Bandra West. Residents from various floors were rescued, including individuals from the second and eighth floors, further highlighting the scale of the operation.
While no fatalities were reported, the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining operational fire safety systems in residential complexes. Authorities are expected to investigate the malfunction of the firefighting equipment and review safety protocols.
Residents have expressed gratitude for the swift response of the fire brigade and other emergency services, which averted a potential tragedy.
