Three people were injured after a fire broke out on the 23rd floor of the Royal Altezza residential building in Pantnagar, Ghatkopar East, Mumbai, at around 8.08 pm on Friday, November 6. The Mumbai Fire Brigade evacuated the building and deployed at least eight fire engines before bringing the blaze under control after more than two hours.
Sainath Awale, 45, suffered 27% burns, while Rajesh Lodaya, 47, and Nirav Lodaya, 34, were hospitalised after suffering suffocation. All three were reported to be stable. While Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar said a stray firecracker, possibly a rocket, may have entered a flat and triggered the blaze, DCP Ganesh Shinde said the fire was caused by a short circuit. The exact cause remains under investigation.
Blaze Triggers Evacuation
The fire was reported at 8.08 pm on the 23rd floor of the 25-storey residential building on Vallabh Baug Lane. The Mumbai Fire Brigade initially classified it as a Level-I fire before upgrading it to a Level-II call at 8.52 pm as firefighting operations intensified. At least eight fire engines and other equipment were deployed. The blaze was brought under control at around 11.10 pm, while the entire building was evacuated as a precaution.
Fire brigade personnel also carried out a search operation to check whether anyone remained trapped inside. Mumbai Police, Adani Electricity, the Public Works Department and the local civic ward office were involved in the emergency response.
Three Residents Hospitalised
Sainath Awale was taken to Rajawadi Hospital after suffering burns covering around 27% of his body. Doctors reported his condition as stable. Rajesh Lodaya and his cousin Nirav Lodaya were admitted to Zynova Hospital after suffering suffocation and were also reported to be stable.
All three injured people were residents of the building. Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the site and reviewed the rescue and relief operations after the incident.
Cause Remains Disputed
The circumstances that triggered the fire have not yet been conclusively established. Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar said preliminary information suggested that a stray firecracker may have landed inside a flat and started the blaze. He also said the building’s internal firefighting system was initially not functioning and began working after fire brigade personnel activated it, adding that the matter would be investigated.
DCP Ganesh Shinde, however, said the fire originated because of a short circuit. The conflicting preliminary accounts mean the firecracker theory should not be treated as a confirmed cause.
Safety Concerns Raised
The incident has also brought attention to fire-safety preparedness in high-rise residential buildings. Resident Sachin Pawar questioned why the internal firefighting system was reportedly not functioning and claimed that traffic congestion delayed the arrival of fire tenders. However, the claim about the response time is a resident’s account and has not been independently established by officials.
Other residents also raised concerns about vehicles parked outside the building potentially affecting evacuation and emergency access. These concerns are likely to form part of the broader questions surrounding the incident and the building’s safety arrangements.
Emergency Response Underway
The evacuation was carried out to protect residents while firefighters worked to contain the blaze and establish whether anyone remained inside. Officials said the extent of damage was still being assessed.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade, police, electricity authorities, PWD and civic officials coordinated the response, while the Mayor’s office said rescue and relief operations were reviewed at the site. The precise cause of the fire and the extent of property damage are expected to be established through further investigation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
A high-rise fire is a reminder that fire safety cannot be treated as a formality. Whether the investigation ultimately establishes a firecracker, an electrical fault or another cause, residents need functioning safety systems, accessible emergency routes and buildings that are prepared for worst-case scenarios.
At the same time, conflicting preliminary accounts underline the importance of waiting for verified findings before assigning blame. How can residents, housing societies and civic authorities work together to make Mumbai’s high-rise neighbourhoods safer?
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