Mumbai's Kamala Mills Catches Fire, 14 Killed, Several Injured

A massive fire broke out at Kamala mill, Mumbai, causing 14 death and several other injuries. The fire started from a rooftop restaurant in Mumbai Kamala Mills complex late last night, reports NDTV.

A young woman named Khushboo Mehta, 28 was among the 14 who died. She was celebrating her birthday party with her friends. A video captioned ‘The happiest birthday’ was found on her phone. Her body was identified by her husband. Among those who died, 11 are females. Most of them belong to their twenties. Those injured were rushed to King Edward Memorial Hospital and Scion Hospital.

The firefighters listed several reasons, among them, illegal construction of the building is the main cause behind the inflame. The structure has very limited exit points. There were no emergency exits as well, according to a report by NDTV. They said that the rescue operation was tough because there were combustible materials like tarpaulin and plastic cover which kept melting and falling all over, reports Times of India. According to the firefighters, the intensity of the fire was severe at the bar area. Fireman ladders were used during the operations to bring down 30 people who were trapped within.

After the fire engulfed the building, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) now promised to crackdown on all 30 restaurants in the compound. “From today itself, we will be inspecting all the restaurants in the compound and take immediate action against them. Considering festive season and just two days for New Year’s Eve, we will not take any risk,” said Assistant municipal commissioner of G south (lower Parel) Prashant Sakpale.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence tweeting that he was, anguished by the fire in Mumbai. “My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray that those injured recovers quickly”, Modi tweeted.

Anguished by the fire in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray that those injured recover quickly: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 29, 2017