A fire was reported to have broken out in the seven-story Times Tower building in Lower Parel West, Mumbai. According to officials , nine fire tenders have been rushed to the scene to contain the situation. While firefighting operations are still underway, no injuries have been reported up until now.
The blaze began around 6:30 am at the Kamala Mill compound in Lower Parel, a major commercial area in Mumbai. According to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the fire has been classified as a level 2 (major) incident. Nine fire engines and additional firefighting vehicles have been deployed to the scene to combat the flames.
Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties at this time, the BMC official confirmed.
Fire Contained to Specific Building Area
The fire is reportedly confined to the electric duct from the 3rd to the 7th floors of the Times Tower, which features a glass façade. The blaze is located at the rear of the 14-story commercial building. Firefighters are working to control the situation and prevent further spread.
Previous Fire at Kamala Mills
This incident brings back memories of a devastating fire that occurred at the Kamala Mills compound on December 29, 2017. That fire, which started in the 1Above restaurant and spread to Mojo’s Bistro, resulted in the death of 14 people and numerous injuries. Following the 2017 fire, 14 individuals, including restaurant owners, employees, BMC officials, and mill owners, were booked by the Mumbai Police.
In a legal development related to the 2017 fire, the Mumbai sessions court discharged the owners of the Kamala Mills compound, Ramesh Gowani and Ravi Bhandari, on November 10, 2020. The accused faced charges under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Emergency Response Details
The firefighting response to the current blaze at Times Tower includes four fire engines, one Mobile Fire Tender (MFT), one Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), one Aerial Work Platform (AWPT), two Jet Tanks (JT), and one Turn Table Ladder (TTL). This extensive response highlights the scale of the emergency and the efforts to manage and contain the fire.
Recent Fire Incident in Mumbai
This fire follows another significant blaze in Mumbai on February 26, where 37 individuals were rescued from the Options Commercial Centre in Santacruz West. The fire, which started in the building’s electric wiring and installations on the second floor, was confined primarily to this area.
Mumbai’s fire brigade continues to address these challenging incidents, reflecting the ongoing need for robust fire safety measures and emergency preparedness in high-density urban areas.
