A 65-year-old man lost his life in a fire that erupted in the Haripreet building, a ground-plus-six storey structure located on Tagore Road in Santacruz West. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, prompting swift response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) officials.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the fire, classified as a level-one incident, was first reported at 3.47 pm. The blaze remained contained to the sixth floor of the residential building, situated opposite Santacruz’s renowned Podar School. In response to the conflagration, the MFB rapidly dispatched four fire engines and specialized equipment to the scene.
The deceased has been identified as Nitesh Joshi, aged 65. Medical officers at Vile Parle’s civic-run Cooper Hospital declared him brought dead. The fire brigade’s swift intervention led to the rescue of two individuals trapped within the smoke-logged sixth floor. The MFB’s expertise and timely action were pivotal in ensuring their survival.
Ravindra Ambulgekar, Chief Fire Officer (CFO), acknowledged the challenging conditions faced during the rescue mission. “The smoke-logging was very intensive,” Ambulgekar stated. He further elaborated on the extensive resources employed during the operation, including four fire engines, Breathing Apparatus Sets (BA Sets), and a mini fire tender.
One of the rescued individuals received medical attention at Cooper Hospital, while the other sustained minor injuries and was treated on-site through the 108 ambulance service.
Haseena Ayoob is a regular contributor of The Chenab Times.