Nana Chowk fire: 1 resident still missing, a charred body found

A missing complaint has been filed as Kirit Kantharia, a 40-year-old who was trapped in the Tardeo fire, is missing. Police have found a burnt body from Sachinam Heights (Kamla building) at Gowalia Tank, where fire erupted around around 7 am on Saturday, and suspect that it is Kantharia's body. Cops have conducted a DNA test to match a sample from the body with Kantharia's elder brother Yogesh and are awaiting the report.

Cops said Kantharia, son of Manjulaben Kantharia who was found dead in the fire, was under treatment for mental illness. His family has demanded an in-depth probe into the fire amid blame that the fire started due to them, even as the fire is said to have started on the 16th or 17th floor from where it spread to the 19th floor where Kantharias live. Suketu Shah, husband of Manjulaben's granddaughter, said, "Everybody is blaming us for the fire, but it did not start on our floor. An in-depth inquiry should be initiated in this matter and police should take action."

"My wife and I live on the 19th floor along with Kirit bhai and his mother. Kirit bhai used to do house work and also go out to shop. Several people from the society said they saw Kirit near the building after the fire broke out, but they are not sure. Police have also found a charred body. We could not identify the same, so a DNA test has been conducted. However, we hope he is alive and returns home soon," said Shah. He added, "We have checked CCTV footage of the society but it was not functioning properly. Police are also checking nearby CCTV cameras."

Senior Inspector Rampiyare Rajnhar of Gamdevi police station told mid-day, "We have filed a missing person's report but have not yet registered any case into the fire. We have informed the fire bridge, BEST and BMC to prepare reports. We have found a burnt body and suspect it is Kirit's as it was found near his flat. We are awaiting the DNA report."