Fumes, not flames, may have killed 14 in Kamala Mills Fire

A blaze broke out at a commercial building in the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai around 12:30 am, police said.

Reuters Photo

Mumbai: At least 14 people lost their lives when fire engulfed a multi-storey building in Mumbai's Kamala Mills late Thursday night. Post-mortem of the bodies blame asphyxiation for the deaths.

According to Dr Harish Pathak, forensic department head at King Edward Medical College, the deaths were caused due to suffocation. "Almost all died to asphyxiation, none of them have died due to flames but due to fumes," he said. "A proper evacuation plan could have avoided this."

The blaze broke out at a commercial building in the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai around 12:30 am, police said.

Kamala Mills is an industrial compound that houses top restaurants and other commercial establishments including hotels.

Expressing grief, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said an enquiry has been ordered. 

"Disturbing to know about the loss of lives in unfortunate Kamala Mills fire incident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the families who lost their loved ones and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured. Directed the BMC Commissioner to conduct an in-depth enquiry," Fadnavis said in a tweet.

In another tweet, the chief minister said that he has directed Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner (Ajoy Mehta) "to take strong action against erring officials immediately".