Mumbai: In a devastating fire incident early this morning, seven members of a family, including three children, lost their lives after a blaze engulfed a shop and its adjoining residential area in Chembur East’s Sidharth Colony. The fire, reported at approximately 5:20 AM, swept through a building located at Plot No. 16/1 on K.N. Gaikwad Marg, leaving the local community in shock.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) swiftly responded to the Level-I fire alert. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire originated in the ground-floor shop, initially confined to electric wiring and installations, but it quickly spread, consuming household belongings and making firefighting efforts more difficult. Firefighters are still working to fully contain the situation.

A significant force was deployed to the site, including one Divisional Fire Officer (DFO), an Additional Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO), two Station Officers, four fire engines, a Major Fire Tender (MFT), one Water Quenching Rescue Vehicle (WQRV), two Jumbo Tankers, and an Advanced Water Tanker Tender (AWTT). Officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), including an Assistant Commissioner and an Assistant Engineer, along with a team of laborers, also assisted in the rescue operations.

A significant force was deployed to the site, including one Divisional Fire Officer (DFO), an Additional Divisional Fire Officer (ADFO), two Station Officers, four fire engines, a Major Fire Tender (MFT), one Water Quenching Rescue Vehicle (WQRV), two Jumbo Tankers, and an Advanced Water Tanker Tender (AWTT). Officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), including an Assistant Commissioner and an Assistant Engineer, along with a team of laborers, also assisted in the rescue operations.

Details On The Deceased Ones

All seven victims were declared dead on arrival at Rajawadi Hospital. The deceased were identified as Presi Prem Gupta (6), Narendra Gupta (10), Vidhi Chediram Gupta (15), Manju Prem Gupta (30), Prem Chediram Gupta (30), Anita Dharmdev Gupta (39), and Gitadevi Dharamdev Gupta (60). The family, who ran a kirana store on the ground floor, lived on the two floors above the shop. Of the nine family members, only two survived: Cheda Gupta, the 60-year-old patriarch, and his eldest son, aged 35, who were rescued in time.

Witnesses described desperate attempts to save the family. A neighbor recalled, "We tried everything to help. We broke down the walls of their home and the neighboring houses, and shattered windows in an attempt to reach them. Unfortunately, by the time the fire brigade arrived, most of the family was already trapped. We managed to rush three severely burned family members to LC Manek Nursing Home, but they couldn’t be admitted due to the severity of their injuries. By the time they reached Rajawadi Hospital, it was too late."

The fire was reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit in the shop on the ground floor, which quickly spread to the residential floors above. The building, a G+2 structure, housed the family on the upper floors, while the ground floor was used as their shop.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Hemraj Singh Rajput, from Zone 6, confirmed that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the cause of the fire. “We received a call at around 6 AM. The fire broke out in a G+2 building, with the ground floor being used as a shop and the upper floors as residential space. Tragically, seven people have lost their lives, and two, who were in the shop, managed to escape,” he said.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde visited the scene of the tragedy later in the day and announced an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh to the families of the deceased. "This is an extremely unfortunate incident. A high-level inquiry has been ordered, and we will review preventive measures to ensure such incidents do not happen again," Shinde told reporters.