Mumbai: Dharavi slum fire leaves 17 people injured, five with critical burns

A cylinder blast led to a fire at Dharavi’s Kamla Nagar slum around noon on Sunday. Pic/Shadab Khan

Seventeen people, including minors, were injured in a fire that broke out after a cylinder exploded at Shahu Nagar's Kamla Nagar slum in Dharavi. As per information received from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), of the 17 injured, five are critical and currently undergoing treatment at Sion Hospital. This includes an eight-year-old boy, who has suffered burn injuries to his face.

The five patients who are in critical condition include Sonu Jaiswal, 8; 40-year-old Sataradevi Jaiswal, who has suffered 60 per cent burns; 58-year-old Shaukat Ali with 60 per cent burns, 28-year-old Anju Gautam and 32-year-old Prem Jaiswal, both of whom have suffered injuries to their face. The other 12 injured people are in a stable condition and undergoing treatment at Sion Hospital. According to the BMC, not all of the injured are residents of nearby houses. Some of them are passersby too.

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The incident, which took place opposite Hotel Mubarak in Dharavi, was reported around 12.15 pm. Following this, two fire engines, one jumbo water tanker and a team of civic and police officers reached the site. The injured were immediately evacuated and the fire was brought under control and finally extinguished by 12.50 pm. Requesting anonymity, a BMC official said, "Preliminary probe reveals that the gas cylinder that exploded was leaking from before, but it was left unattended by the roadside. It seems like someone was smoking near the cylinder and must have dropped the cigarette which led to the blast and subsequently to the fire."