A devastating fire that swept through a garage-cum-residence in Chuim Village, Khar, in the early hours of Tuesday claimed the life of Adrien Alves, a 26-year-old aspiring chartered accountant. Adrien, the son of a well-known local bike mechanic, was also working at a comic book store in Bandra. His funeral will be held at St Vincent de Paul Church in Khar on Saturday.
Fundraiser Launched for Family
An online fundraiser with a target of Rs 20 lakh has been initiated to support the Alves family and repair their partially destroyed home. The house was not insured against fire. As of Thursday evening, approximately Rs 10 lakh had been raised through the campaign.
Details of the Incident
The fire broke out around 2:30 am and spread rapidly through the premises. Adrien's grandmother, Audrey Alves, who owns the house and has lived there for decades, managed to escape along with her son, Alistair. However, Adrien, Alistair's eldest son, was trapped inside and succumbed to the blaze. Alistair's wife and their two younger children were out of town at the time of the incident.
Community Mourns
Social media has been flooded with messages of grief and condolences. Locals remember Adrien as a polite, well-mannered, and good-natured young man who was always eager to help others, especially when they came to service their bikes at the family garage.
Family Business Impacted
Alistair Alves owns Alves Corner, a two-wheeler service garage located directly beneath the family residence. The fire has severely damaged the family's belongings, and Alistair is currently unable to operate his business, leading to a loss of income for him and his employees. The family's insurance does not cover fire-related damage, leaving them without financial support.
Fundraiser Details
Alistair's sisters, Giselle Maria and Gretchen, who reside in the UK, initiated the online fundraiser to help the family with emergency accommodation, clothing, food, and basic necessities, as well as to rebuild their home and garage. The funds will also cover Adrien's funeral expenses. The bungalow still stands, but the fire destroyed much of the family's possessions.
Thane activist Melwyn Fernandes, who helped spread the word among the community, expressed regret over Adrien's death, noting that he was set to become a chartered accountant and had a promising life ahead.
