Fire breaks out in four-storey Saat Rasta building, no casualties

The 75-year-old Vitthal Niwas building

A fire broke out at Vitthal Niwas, a four-storey, 75-year-old building adjacent to the Mahalaxmi railway flyover on Wednesday. Fortunately, no one was injured, as firefighters managed to rescue people from the windows, though five families had no access to a staircase. Some of the residents blamed an additional room allegedly built in front of this staircase in the common passage by a neighbour, that blocked
their access.

The Fire Brigade sent eight fire engines and three jumbo water tankers to the building at Jacob Circle, Saat Rasta. Residents said the fire broke out around 11.15 am in room number 10 on the second floor of A wing. "I was standing below when the fire broke out. My home is adjacent to the room where it started. So I alerted my wife. She and our son immediately stepped out as our home is near the staircase," said Gracious Miranda, a resident of the second floor. He added that the building is more than 75 years old. There are two wings and 14 rooms on each floor. There are a total 75 tenants.

The charred inside of the flat that caught fire. Pics/Bipin Kokate

Atul Kambale, who works in a shop on the ground floor of the building, said most residents stepped down before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. Few residents, mainly women, were rescued by fire fighters through a ladder.

‘Thought it was minor'

Kanta Maida, who was rescued by the fire brigade from the window of her room, told mid-day that residents started shouting around 11.15 am, when the fire broke out in a room. "I thought it was a minor fire and stayed in our room. But soon our home filled up with smoke. My son Piyush, 6, and my grandmother, Mani Khoda, 95, couldn't breathe. I panicked and called 100. But the Fire Brigade came after almost an hour. We were so frightened. They rescued us from the window and my grandmother and a housemaid from the neighbouring home were rescued by staircase," said Maida, who has been staying on rent there for two years.

Shanaya Virani, the owner of the house where the fire broke out, was out at the time. "The room was closed. People are saying it might be due to a short circuit," said Virani.

‘Kitchen that blocked us'

A resident said a family member of Virani staying in another room on the same floor, used part of the common passage to build a kitchen, blocking everyone else's access to the staircase there. "Other residents have been opposing it for many years. We have complained to her many times. Had the room not blocked the passage, residents could have had access to the staircase towards B wing," the resident said.

But Virani said people were raising the issue of additional room in the passage out of nowhere. "It is not linked to the fire," she claimed.
"A major tragedy was averted due to the timely intervention of the Fire Brigade. We rescued three persons including a child from the windows of the second floor with a ladder. Two old women were rescued from the staircase," said Hemant Parab, Chief Fire Officer, the Mumbai FB. He added that an investigation is on and he could not comment on whether the passage was blocked due to unauthorised construction.