Dombivli – A huge fire engulfed a multistorey building at Khoni Palava, a residential township near Dombivli in Maharashtra, on Saturday morning. The fire was reportedly caused by a short circuit on the seventh floor of the building and spread rapidly to the upper floors. Four fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as all the residents were safely evacuated from the building.
What happened?
According to the fire brigade officials, the fire started around 11 am on the seventh floor of the building, where some fiber sheets were installed on the duct area of the flats. The fire soon spread to the other floors through the ducts and reached the 18th floor of the building. The fire brigade team faced difficulties in reaching the spot due to the narrow roads and traffic congestion. They had to use hydraulic ladders and water jets to control the fire. It took them about three hours to bring the fire under control and another hour to complete the cooling operations.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: A massive fire broke out in a building at Khoni Palava near Dombivli. Four fire tenders are present at the spot. No casualty reported yet.
— ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2024
(Video Source: Thane Municipal Corporation) pic.twitter.com/jxUmZbeUp3
How did the residents escape?
The building, which is a part of the Palava Township project, was a new construction and only the first three floors were occupied by the residents. The rest of the floors were still under construction and had no occupants. As soon as the fire broke out, the residents on the lower floors were alerted by the smoke and the fire alarms. They quickly ran out of the building and gathered at a safe distance. Some of them also helped the fire brigade personnel in rescuing the trapped workers on the upper floors. No one was injured or harmed in the incident, thanks to the timely intervention of the fire brigade and the cooperation of the residents.
What is the extent of the damage?
The fire caused extensive damage to the building and the belongings of the residents. The fire brigade officials said that the fire gutted several flats and the duct area of the building. The fiber sheets, electrical wiring, furniture, appliances, and other items were reduced to ashes. The structure of the building was also weakened by the intense heat and smoke. The exact amount of the loss is yet to be estimated, but it is expected to be in crores of rupees. The fire brigade officials said that they will conduct a thorough investigation to ascertain the exact cause and origin of the fire.
What is the reaction of the authorities?
The incident has raised serious questions about the safety and quality of the construction of the building and the township. The residents have expressed their anger and frustration over the lack of fire safety measures and the negligence of the builder and the contractor. They have demanded a strict action against the responsible parties and a compensation for their losses. The local authorities have assured the residents that they will look into the matter and take appropriate steps to prevent such incidents in the future. They have also promised to provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected residents.
What is the significance of the incident?
The fire incident at Khoni Palava is not an isolated case, but a reflection of the poor state of fire safety in the urban areas of Maharashtra. The state has witnessed several major fire accidents in the recent years, claiming many lives and properties. Some of the notable examples are the Kamala Mills fire in Mumbai in 2017, the Sunrise Hospital fire in Mumbai in 2021, and the Serum Institute fire in Pune in 2021. These incidents have exposed the loopholes and lapses in the fire safety norms and regulations, the lack of enforcement and compliance, and the corruption and apathy of the authorities and the builders. The fire incident at Khoni Palava is a wake-up call for the government and the society to take urgent and effective measures to ensure fire safety and security in the urban spaces.
