16 November,2023 04:46 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Two LPG cylinders exploded due to the blaze. Pic/Shadab Khan
A fire broke out in Byculla early morning on Wednesday, gutting small manufacturing units and godowns where footwear, leather and other materials used in production were stored. The fire resulted in the collapse of a two-storey structure. It also spread to other wooden structures, including the Jubilee Building which is around 120 years old and Dhobighat Chawl. Fortunately, no one was hurt due to the incident.
According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), it received a call regarding the incident around 7.30 am, though the fire may started much earlier. The old two-storey structure that collapsed was behind Saiffi Manzil near Hyat Medical on Sakhali Street and was surrounded by other old buildings. The fire gutted electric wiring, electric installations, wooden furniture, wooden door and window frames, drums containing glue for footwear, bags, plastic raw materials, LPG cylinders, GI sheets etc. in an area of about 5,000-6000 sq ft. It also spread to the second and third floors of two adjacent buildings - Jubilee Building and Dhobighat Chawl - which are both three-storey structures.
The photogallery here
"The lanes are hardly two to three feet wide so there wasn't any chance to take fire brigade vehicles inside. So we started to douse the fire using hose lines from three sides. We heard the explosion of two LPG cylinders that may have been used by the labourers for cooking. The fire started spreading to other buildings and we asked residents to vacate the spots. We brought the fire under control and it was limited to a few windows," said Assistant Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO) Vishnu Sangle. Eight hose lines were used in the operation.
The MFB rescued nine residents from the Jubilee Building. "The fire may have started due to an electric short circuit or it may be due to leakage in a gas cylinder pipe. Investigations are underway," said an officer from MFB.
