Seven die in a fire at Mumbai’s Chembur, CM Eknath Shinde announces high-level probe

The victims were seven members of a family that lived above the ground floor shop, where a short circuit allegedly caused the accident

At least seven members of a family, including three children, died in a fire that broke out on the ground floor of a multi-storey building in Mumbai on Sunday. The fire at Siddharth Colony in Chembur was allegedly caused by a short circuit.  

Preliminary information received from civic officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation indicated the incident took place at around 5.20 a.m. The fire started in a shop on the ground floor that contained electric wiring and installation material, and spread to other household appliances. The fire later reached the upper floors, where all the seven family members lived, BMC officials said.

All seven victims were declared brought dead to the hospital, Ajit Kumar, Assistant Medical Officer, Rajawadi Hospital said.  

The female victims have been identified as Presi Prem Gupta (6), Vidhi Chediram Gupta (15), Manju Prem Gupta (30), Anita Dharmdev Gupta (39), and Gitadevi Dharamdev Gupta (60), and the two male victims have been identified as Prem Chediram Gupta (30) and Narendra Gupta (10).  

“The family used to reside on the other two floors above the ground floor, while the shop was on the ground floor. At 6 a.m., we received the information. Apart from the seven people from the family, there were two people who were sleeping in the shop on the ground floor. Luckily, they escaped. The police department, along with the fire brigade team, is investigating the exact cause of the fire,” Hemraj Singh Rajput, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 6, Chembur police station, said. 

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the accident site later in the day and announced ₹5 lakh as ex-gratia to the kin of those killed in the fire. “This is a very unfortunate incident. A high-level inquiry has also been ordered into the matter and measures will be reviewed to ensure such incidents do not repeat,” Mr. Shinde told media persons. 

Similar accidents have occurred in the area before, former MP Rahul Shewale said. Mr. Shewale asked the CM to pay attention to the redevelopment of Siddharth Nagar for its “permanent transformation”. To this, the CM said that if the work of slum rehabilitation had been stopped, appropriate decisions would be taken for that as well. 

Published - October 06, 2024 10:23 am IST