Mumbai: Fire breaks out in an apartment, two dead

Mumbai : Two persons were killed after a major fire broke out in a residential building in posh south Mumbai today, with firefighters rescuing 11 residents trapped in the blaze. As per preliminary information, the 20th floor flat, in which the fire broke out, belongs to the family of industrialist that owns the Bajaj Group, Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade, P S Rahangdale said. The fire broke out on the 20th floor of the high rise, Maker Tower, at 6.37 AM and has been brought under control, he said, adding cooling and rescue operations are on. "Fire fighters have rescued at least 11 residents while the two seriously injured were sent to government-run  St. George Hospital where they were declared dead before admission," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Manojkumar Sharma said.  There are two flats on each floor of the 25-floor building and the fire spread from the 20th floor to the 21st floor, fire officials said. Soon after receiving the alert, fire brigade's eight fire engines, six jettys and two ambulances were pressed into action, while nearby areas were cordoned off by the Cuff Parade Police for smooth movement of fire brigades, they said. Noted writer-columnist Shobha De, who also resides in the building, said, "The fire personnel did a fantastic job. They handled it very efficiently and contained it quickly... it could have been much much worse. "Two lives were lost ...This is a great wake up call for everybody. Anybody who lives in a high rise in Mumbai needs to be aware of hazards," she said., Fire officials said all the residents of the building have been evacuated. The cause behind the blaze is yet to be ascertained.Meanwhile, BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta reached the spot and took stock of the fire fighting and rescue operations.