Mumbai mall blaze: 3500 people evacuated from adjacent tower

Mumbai: Mumbai fire brigade personnel are engaged in controlling the blaze at a mall 12 hours after fire broke out here, even as around 3500 people from an adjoining building were evacuated, civic sources said on Friday.

A major fire erupted at the City Center Mall in Mumbai Central area at 8.50 pm on Thursday. Two fire personnel have been injured while controlling the blaze, the sources said.

Around 300 people were rescued from the basement plus three-storey mall after the fire broke out, an official said.

A Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release said the Mumbai Fire Brigade has given a ‘brigade call’ in
which fire engines are called from all agencies in the city.

Around 50 fire fighting vehicles, including24 fire engines and 16 jumbo tankers are engaged in the fire fighting at the spot, besides over 250 officers and firemen, it said.

A fireman sustained minor injuries on his right hand during the fire fighting operation and was rushed to nearby JJ
Hospital, it said, adding his condition is stable.

The fire erupted in a mobile shop on the second floor of the mall, which mainly houses shops for mobile accessories,
besides a few other stores.

The BMC said around 3500 residents of the 55-floor Orchid Enclave tower adjoining the mall were shifted as a precautionary measure.   A police officer said they evacuated around 300 people
from the mall when the blaze erupted.

The fire was initially categorised as level 1 (minor) but was upgraded to level-3 at 10.45 pmand to level-4 at 2.30
am, after flames spread to other parts of the building.

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar visited the site and reviewed the fire fighting operation.

According to fire brigade officials, the exact cause of the fire was not yet known.

Earlier on Thursday, a fire broke out in a garment factory at Kurla in Mumbai. It was doused after two hours.