Two dead in fire at a duplex in high-rise in south Mumbai

Mumbai: Two persons were killed in a major fire that broke out at a duplex flat owned by industrialist Shekhar Bajaj in a high-rise in the tony South Mumbai area this morning.

Fire broke out in the apartment of Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Electricals, on the 20th and 21st floor of Maker Tower in Cuffe Parade at about 6.44 am, according to an official at the disaster control room of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

While two servants of the Bajaj family died, police and firemen rescued 14 residents of the building.

Ajay Saroj (21) and Kundan Omprakash Singh (23) died due to burns. Bajaj, his family members and other residents were rescued, senior police inspector Deepak Patil told PTI.

Fire spread from the 20th floor to the 21st floor through an internal staircase. Electrical wiring, electrical equipment, doors, wooden furniture, household installations, etc., in 3000 sq ft area inside the duplex apartment got damaged, police said.

There are two flats on each floor of the 25-floor building.

After receiving the alert, eight fire engines, six jettys and two ambulances were pressed into service.

Noted writer-columnist Shobha De, who lives in the same building said, "The fire personnel did a fantastic job. They handled it very efficiently and contained it quickly... It could have been much much worse.

"Two lives were lost...This is a great wake-up call for everybody. Anybody who lives in a high-rise in Mumbai needs to be aware of hazards," she said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta had visited the spot to take stock of the situation when fire-fighting and rescue operations were underway.