An official reported that thirty-three people, including children, were rescued when a fire broke out in the electric metre box of a housing society in Mumbai's western district of Andheri East on Saturday morning, news agency PTI reported. The fire broke out at approximately 8:51 a.m. in the ground-plus-four-story Saki Cooperative Housing Society at D'Souza Compound in Sakinaka and was extinguished around 10:45 a.m., he added.
"It was a level one (low intensity) fire. We rescued 33 residents comprising four men and three women from the first floor, 16 persons, including two newborns, from the second floor, 10 persons from the third and fourth floors. Multiple ladders were used for the rescue operation," the official was quoted by PTI in its report.
Because the metre box was on the ground level and it was too dangerous for the tenants of the apartments above to come down, fire authorities removed one window grille of the apartment to enter the property and rescue residents, he added.
According to the official, a water truck, ambulance, and other equipment, as well as fire department employees, were dispatched to extinguish the incident.
According to him, the fire was contained to the wiring, installations and panel boards in the metre cabin on the ground and ground levels of the structure.
According to the official, an investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
Earlier on Friday, a gas leak caused a fire in Mumbai's Bandra neighbourhood. The Mumbai Fire Brigade responded quickly, deploying five fire tenders to the spot and effectively putting out the fire. Two persons were allegedly injured during the event and were taken to a local hospital, according to ANI, quoting the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). "Fire in chawl due to gas leakage. Two injured people were sent to a private hospital. Their condition details are awaited," the BMC official was quoted as saying by Mid Day.