A significant fire broke out at the popular City Mall located on New Link Road in Mumbai's Andheri West area on Saturday afternoon. The incident, which caused alarm among shoppers and local residents, was successfully brought under control within approximately an hour, with officials confirming that no injuries were reported.
Timeline and Firefighting Response
The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) received an emergency call alerting them to the blaze at around 2:06 pm. Fire engines were immediately dispatched and reached the location at approximately 2:24 pm. Through swift and coordinated efforts, firefighters managed to fully extinguish the flames by 3:03 pm.
The fire was localized to an electrical duct situated at the south-west corner of the mall on the third floor. To combat the blaze, firefighters first disconnected the electrical supply. They then utilized three hose lines—comprising two small hose lines and one first-aid line—supported by three motor pumps. While smoke was observed within the duct, the fire was contained and did not spread to any other part of the shopping complex.
Multi-Agency Precautionary Measures
As a standard safety protocol, multiple agencies were mobilized to the site. This included personnel from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, local police, 108 ambulance services, and civic ward staff. A substantial fleet of emergency vehicles was deployed to manage the situation, which included:
- Three fire engines
- Two jumbo tankers
- One aerial water tower tender
- One breathing apparatus van
- An ambulance
This robust response ensured the situation was handled efficiently and prevented any escalation.
Concerns Over Local Fire Safety Infrastructure
While the immediate crisis was averted, the incident has sparked renewed concern regarding fire safety infrastructure in the densely populated Andheri region. Dhaval Shah, a representative from the Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association (LOCA), highlighted a critical issue.
Shah pointed out the existing reservation in the Development Plan (DP) for a fire brigade station on a portion of the Chitrakoot grounds, which remains undeveloped. "For a large area like Andheri, there is no dedicated fire station," Shah stated. "In case of a blaze, fire engines have to come from either Irla or Goregaon Fire Station. There is a mini fire station, but it cannot cater to a large fire like this. We all know that the faster the blaze is doused, the lesser is the damage."
The cause of the fire at City Mall is currently under investigation and has not yet been officially determined by the authorities.
