Mumbai's 'Kothari Fort' collapsed after massive fire, 2 firefighters injured

Mumbai : Breaking news from Mumbai comes in as a major fire broke in British era ground-plus-five storey Kothari building Fort, around 4.30 am on Saturday. No one sustained any serious injury in the incident. The burning building is also known as the Light Of Asia.

The building where the fire broke is unoccupied and portion of it distorted during the firefighting operation.

Officials stated that serious tragedy turned away as a group of firemen involved in firefighting operation had moved to safe distance just before the portion of the building distorted on the two fire vehicles where they were standing.

Two firemen on a ladder sustained minor injuries in the incident and were admitted to a hospital.

Officials confirmed that no one was trapped inside the building. Firemen had put 16 fire engines into firefighting operation to ensure that it should not spread in neighbouring buildings. They managed to control the fire after three hours of struggle.

Sources confirmed that the building falls in C-1 category, i.e, most dangerous structure and the state government authority, Mhada had vacated the premises four year ago. Such buildings need to be knocked down for reconstruction. There is no clarity why Mhada failed to demolish the dangerous structure in last four yeas, putting lives of thousands of pedestrians in danger who passes from the building regularly.

There were gaps between the building’s pillars and the shops on its ground floor. The gap between the shops and the pillars were used as temporary footpath by pedestrians and hawkers.

The building was empty and no one was living inside said a BMC official.

Talking to assistant municipal commissioner Kiran Dighavkar, he said, “The fire started from second floor of the building after which half of its portion collapsed.”