Goregaon fire: Get your family and run, survivor recalls horrifying moments

Tisha Chougule, 18, one of the seven people who died in the blaze

My husband, my son, and I are fine, but I couldn't find my daughter. Has she been taken to another hospital? I want to talk to her once," said Laxmi Chougule, the mother of 18-year-old Tisha Chougule, one of the seven victims who lost their lives in a massive fire that gutted their residence in Goregaon. Tisha, an HSC student, was working hard so she could pursue computer science after her HSC, her father, Sanjay Chougule, told mid-day.

Chougule broke down, saying the family has not informed Laxmi that their daughter is no more. "She is already in a state of shock, grappling with the aftermath of the fire and the extent of the damage we've experienced. Given her current condition, I am hesitant to share the news of our daughter's passing with her at this moment. My wife, my son Tejas,15, escaped unhurt, but we lost Tisha," said Chougule.

Jai Bhavani building in Goregaon after the fire. Pic/Anurag Ahire

In Photos: Massive fire kills 7, injures 51 in Mumbai`s Goregaon

1 year agoPHOTO GALLERY

Chougule continued, "Someone knocked on our door. When we opened it, a thick layer of smoke billowed in, and the person urgently exclaimed, 'Get your family and run! There's a fire!' Without hesitation, we hurriedly exited the apartment. While my son Tejas and I called out to others to leave the building, my wife, along with Tisha, went to the flat opposite ours, where my mother resides. They quickly alerted her to the danger. Unfortunately, Tisha couldn't make it out in time. She had inhaled too much smoke."

Another child lost her life

Similar to Tisha, 12-year-old Diya Tushamad lost consciousness on the second floor of the building while attempting to escape. Fortunately, her parents, Reena and Bishan, and her two brothers, Sahil and Sonu, managed to get out safely. Currently, the family is undergoing treatment in the ICU at R N Cooper Hospital. Despite the efforts of the fire brigade and rescuers, Diya could not be saved and was declared brought dead at the HBT trauma hospital in Jogeshwari.

Rinkal, 3.5; Bishnu Ale, 45; Nanda Bhojaiya, 58 and Diya Tushamad, 12

Ravi Bhaujeyya, another resident said, "We reside on the third floor of the building. When we were abruptly awakened by chaos and screams, we looked outside and witnessed people frantically fleeing the premises. My uncle advised us to at least secure our wallets, but the fire was spreading with alarming speed. Therefore, we made the immediate decision to leave everything behind and prioritise our safety. Fortunately, we all successfully made it out, except for my aunt, Nanda Bhaujeyya, 58."

Others who succumbed to death were Rinkal, 3.5, Susai Rajan, 31, Bishnu Ale, 45.

Escaping fire wasn't easy

Malang Murlidhar Malah, 35, was seen arguing with the hospital staff, adamant about opting for Discharge against Medical Advice (DAMA) despite burn injuries on his fingers and trauma. Narrating his ordeal, Malah told mid-day, "When the fire broke out, I just picked up my four-year-old child and ran out of my house without looking back. Luckily, some people got us out. I don't know who they were. My child and my wife are now at the municipal school in Unnat Nagar. I want to be with them, I don't want to leave them alone."

Malah signed an undertaking stating he is leaving on his own and against medical advice only to be with his family.

Vishal Rathod might have escaped the fire, but his wife Kalpana, 23, 2-year-old daughter Preesha, and 3-month-old son Manvik all sustained 8-9 per cent burn injuries. After the civic chief's visit, the three were shifted to Kasturba hospital, where they will be provided with plastic surgery.

One senior official from HBT Trauma hospital said, "Starting at 3.30 am, patients started coming in, of which six were brought dead. By everning we had 42 patients admitted here, of which four patients are in the ICU, others in the emergency ward. Three of Rathod's family, including his mother and two children, have been shifted to Kasturba Hospital. The three-month-old Manvik has burns in the groin region, and there are chances of infection. In most cases that have come here, burns are negligible, with most cases involving suffocation."

7
No. of dead on Friday