A victim of a major fire that broke out in a residential building in Mumbai has died, bringing the death toll to eight. The victim had been receiving treatment for burns and smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
A tragic incident in Mumbai’s Goregaon West has claimed another life, bringing the death toll to eight. Sunil Dhembre, who had been receiving treatment at Kokilaben hospital, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday evening. Dhembre had suffered superficial burns and injuries from smoke inhalation during the fire that broke out in the seven-storey residential building, Jai Bhavani, a week prior.
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Dhembre was initially admitted to HBT hospital and later transferred to Cooper hospital. On October 11, he decided to leave against medical advice (DAMA) and admitted himself to Kokilaben Hospital. Unfortunately, his condition worsened, and he was pronounced dead on October 15.
Dhembre’s tragic loss adds to the grief of his neighbor, Murlidhar Malla, who also lost his daughter, Prerna, in the aftermath of the blaze. The two families resided in adjacent flats in the SRA building. Dhembre, who ran a shoe shop near Goregaon station, leaves behind a devastated community.
Meanwhile, the BMC has barred residents from reentering the building as restoration work for electricity and water is ongoing. The affected residents have been provided temporary accommodation at a nearby BMC-run school in Unnat Nagar. Initially, only three families sought refuge at the school, but more residents have followed suit as they are discharged from the hospital.
However, staying at the school poses its own challenges for the displaced families. Mallar, one of the first residents to arrive, cites the difficulties they face and their inability to find affordable rental places as reasons for staying at the school.
The SRA and BMC are currently conducting repair work and audits to determine the cause of the fire. Initial reports suggest that the flames were exacerbated by the storage of scrap clothes in the building’s stilt area.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and the need for thorough investigations to prevent similar incidents in the future. The community mourns the loss of Sunil Dhembre and supports the affected families during this difficult time..
