Six die in Andheri hospital fire : Mumbai

At least six people, including a 5-month-old baby, died and 157 were injured after a major fire broke out at the state-run ESIC Kamgar hospital in Andheri East on Monday. One of the victims crashed to the ground and died as she jumped from the fourth floor to escape the blaze.

The fire started on the first floor around 3.30 pm and soon spread to the upper floors of the five-storey building. According to the fire brigade, more than 200 people were inside the hospital at the time.

The exact reason for the mishap could not be immediately ascertained, though an electrical short-circuit is believed to triggered the blaze. The fire engulfed the air-conditioning system and generated a lot of smoke, leaving scores of people gasping for breath.

Prabhat Rahangdale, chief fire officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, said many of those trapped were rescued from a common terrace of an under-construction new block of the hospital building. Rahangdale added that the fire was brought under control by 7.20 pm and completely put off by 8 pm.

Fire brigade officials said that for over 40 years, the old hospital building was being run with a provisional fire no-objection certificate and was still awaiting a final NOC from the fire department.

Prashant Sapkale, assistant commissioner of K East ward said that the area falls under the MIDC and all permissions from commencement certificate to fire NOC is given by the MIDC authority.