Three people were injured after a fire broke out on the 23rd floor of Kukreja Palace, a ground-plus-25-storey residential building on Vallabh Baug Lane in Ghatkopar East, on Friday evening. The building was evacuated as the Mumbai Fire Brigade carried out firefighting and rescue operations.
The incident was reported at about 8.08 pm in the Pant Nagar area, according to officials and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Department. The Mumbai Fire Brigade declared the blaze a Level II fire at 8.52 pm. The fire was later brought under control, according to the Chief Fire Officer.
One of the injured residents, identified as 45-year-old Sainath Awale, sustained 27 per cent burn injuries and was shifted to Rajawadi Hospital. He was reported to be in stable condition. Two other injured people, identified as 34-year-old Nirav Lodaya and 47-year-old Rajesh Lodaya, were admitted to Zynova Hospital and were also reported to be stable.
Two children suffering from suffocation were admitted to Zynova Hospital, officials said. The available information did not indicate that they had sustained burn injuries. No further details about their condition were provided.
The emergency response involved the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, the concerned electricity distribution company, the Public Works Department and BMC ward staff. Their mobilisation reflects the coordinated response required during fires in tall residential buildings, where evacuation, access for firefighting vehicles, electricity control and medical treatment must be handled simultaneously.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the site on Friday night and reviewed the rescue operations. The building remained the focus of emergency activity while firefighters worked to contain the blaze and assist residents.
Officials had not established the cause of the fire at the time of the report. No information was provided on the extent of damage to individual flats, common areas or building services. Further details about the origin of the blaze and any safety assessment were awaited.
The incident adds to the continuing emergency-management burden posed by Mumbai’s high-rise residential stock. In such buildings, the height of the affected floor, the availability of functioning fire-safety systems, the condition of escape routes and the ability of emergency vehicles to reach the premises can directly affect evacuation and rescue operations. The source report did not provide details on the building’s fire-safety equipment or whether any systems had failed.
The immediate response concluded with the fire being brought under control, while officials continued to assess the incident and collect details about its cause and impact.
