Mumbai: A massive fire erupted early Monday at a 13-storey residential building in Vidyavihar West, Mumbai, resulting in the death of a security guard and injuring another person.
According to officials, the fire started around 4:35 am in Takshshila Co-operative Housing Society, part of the Neelkanth Kingdom Complex on Nathani Road, opposite Vidyavihar station, causing extensive property damage. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) classified it as a Level II fire, and firefighters worked for nearly three hours before managing to bring it under control by 7:33 am.
The fire in the 13-storey building damaged electrical wiring, household items, wooden furniture, AC units, and clothes in five flats on the first and second floors, also spreading to wooden fittings and shoe racks in the lobbies.
Firefighters rescued 15-20 residents, but could not save Uday Gangan (43), a security guard of the Complex. Doctors said that he suffered nearly 100% burns and died before being taken to hospital.
Security guard Sabhajit Yadav (52), suffered 25-30% burns and is now admitted at the Rajawadi Hospital. His condition is stable.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with authorities probing whether an electrical short circuit or other factors were responsible. “What is important at the moment is that emergency teams, including the fire brigade and police, acted swiftly to control the situation and ensure the residents’ safety,” an official said.
