Goregaon fire: With no water and no fire-fighting system, building was death trap

The charred remains of vehicles in the parking lot of Jay Bhavani building in Goregaon West, on Friday. Pics/Anurag Ahire

Residents of Goregaon's Jay Bhavani building have claimed that it always was a death trap as it lacked essential amenities such as a water connection and fire exits. The only lift in the building was non-functional, but anyway cannot be used in case of fires. For years, residents, some of whom lost their lives in Friday's fire, had been pleading for help from elected representatives. There are 62 flats in the 7-storey building, and around eight to 10 family members lived in a single room, which measures 225 square feet.

Sanjay Chougule, who lost his daughter in the mishap on Friday, said, "We haven't had a water connection since 2008. I don't remember when was the last time we had a functional lift. When the fire brigade came, they might have struggled as there is no fire safety system here. Neither is there any water."

Sanjay Chougule, resident who lost his daughter

He added, "We have been approaching MLAs, MPs and corporators, but no one could do anything to help us. They are now rushing to see if we are dead or alive. Had they helped us earlier, this could have been averted. The tragedy we suffered will open their eyes and minds now."

Another resident, Maria Chettiar, said, "I had been renting this flat since 2008. I wasn't there when the fire broke out; neither was my tenant, a lawyer. But my flat had been gutted. Our society members visited every possible politician seeking their help to improve the situation but one bothered to help us. The developer, too, has done nothing."

Jay Bhavani building in Goregaon West on Friday. Pics/Anurag Ahire

Residents claim that the two wings on the premises are so close to each other that the fire could have easily spread to other adjacent buildings. "The private building has been constructed very well, but ours [A wing, the SRA one] was built just to rehabilitate us and no one bothered to come back and see how we have been suffering without basic amenities. We were better off in our chawls," Chougule said.

Balwant Mallah, a resident of the third floor, stayed with his wife, two children, father, mother, sister and son in a tiny room. "There isn't any water or functional lift. Even those who live on the seventh floor carry water via the staircase. We live a worse life than being in a slum. Despite going to every authority, we are left without basic human amenities and now such a horrific incident has happened."

His father, Murlidhar, said, "We were staying in slums on this plot, They built these buildings and now we are without homes."

Sunil Ogania, another resident, eyes said, "I helped to rescue at least 10 to 12 people from the upper floors. It was so heart-wrenching to see the people we know suffer. We were constantly running from pillar to post to get a water connection. Now all the authorities are coming to console us."

Maria Chettiar, resident

Harikesh Gupta, a fruit vendor and a resident of the first floor of B wing [the sellable building] also lost everything in the fire. "I pay Rs 5,000 as maintenance and our wing has a lift but does not have water supply. A tanker comes and fills up the tank. But the condition of the SRA wing is worse. They cannot even pay for tankers. People get water from neighbouring areas and they carry it up to the seventh floor without a lift," he said.

Another resident Nilesh Kakuria, 22, and his wife Nandan escaped from the third floor with their seven-month-old child. Sitting outside their charred building in the evening, Nandan now wonders what to do next. "They have arranged for temporary shelter at school but we don't know if we will stay there for the night," she said.

While Nandan moved into the building four years ago, Nilesh has been a long-time resident. "Even after so many years, we still don't have drinking water. We have to get it from a temple nearby," he said.

The family sells old clothes in the area. "We have been receiving food throughout the day from the BMC. But now clothes are a concern," Nilesh said.

Meanwhile, authorities have just begun the panchanama process, taking note of all that people lost to provide them with relief.

The families of victims and survivors said that the extent of damage would have been lesser had the fire brigade reached earlier. "The fire brigade came in very late, almost one and half hours late after the fire broke out. By the time they reached, the fire and smoke reached up to the seventh floor," said Raju Tushamad, brother of Bishan Tushamad who is currently in ICU.

Those who escaped unhurt are being rehabilitated in a BMC building in Unnat Nagar in Goregaon East.

Inputs by Sameer Surve and Eshan Kalyanikar

2008
Year since building has not had water connection

Blazes IN SRA buildings

November 13, 2018: Two people were killed in a fire in an SRA building on Veera Desai Road in Andheri.
December 3, 2018: One died and 23 were injured after a fire broke out in the SRA building at Mahalaxmi.
June 22, 2019: Two were injured after a fire broke out in the SRA building on Barkat Ali Road in Wadala.
15 July 2020: A blaze broke out at an SRA building at Shantinagar in Dahisar.
September 16, 2023: A fire broke out in building number 7 E wing at Kurla; 29 people were admitted to the hospital.
February 15, 2023: C wing of the same building caught fire early in the morning. One woman died.