Mumbai: Fire in under-construction Juhu building; 6 dead, 11 injured
Five laborers and a child were charred to death in a massive fire in an under-construction 13-storey building "Prarthana" in Mumbai's Juhu Vile Parle Development (JVPD) Scheme. Another 11 were rushed to RN Cooper Hospital with severe burns; eight are critical. Fire-brigade is searching for the laborers stuck in debris; four are missing. Police suspect an LPG cylinder blast caused the blaze. Know more!
After the fire erupted, locals alerted the fire brigade, and three engines were rushed to the site; the flame was soon brought under control. While police are yet to ascertain the actual cause of the fire, an eyewitness claimed a loud sound was heard just before the blaze erupted, suggesting a cylinder blast. Officials found damaged stoves and LPG cylinders.
Police said the blaze was confined to the 13-storey building's ground floor where scrap material was stored. Laborers were living in 15-17 makeshift houses in the stilt portion. Doctors said they have not been able to ascertain the age of the bodies; most of the injured are critical and are being stabilized. Police are investigating if negligence on anyone's part triggered the fire.
