3 firemen injured in blaze at industrial estate

Expressindia
Express News ServicePosted online: Tuesday , June 03, 2008 at 02:14:39
3 firemen injured in blaze at industrial estate
Express News Service
Posted online: Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 0214 hrs IST
Mumbai, June 02A major fire broke out in one of the units at an industrial estate in Lalbaug on Monday afternoon. Three firemen were injured during the fire-fighting operations.
The fire broke out in one of the galas in the old Kamani mill compound around 1.30 pm. “The oil mill is shut since 1995 and there are eight to 10 galas in it that have been sub-leased. Edible oil was stored in one of the galas. There is also a garment gala, a studio, shaving brush packaging unit, interiors company and a mineral water packaging unit. The cause of the fire is not yet known,” said DCP D K Phadtare, Zone V.
The industrial estate is adjacent to Peru Chawl. “Peru Chawl has been sold to a private builder,” said DCP D K Phadtare, Zone V.
It took more than two hours to put out the fire. “These may be unauthorised galas. There are many lofts. The mill is a 100 x 120 sq ft area without any fire safety measures in place. The exact loss of property will take time to assess,” said Chief Fire Officer A V Sawant.
A Fire department official said assistant fire officer Barahaat and two others — Krushant Kamble and Padmakar Ragunath from Sewree fire station — were taken to KEM hospital. “Barahaat fell from a makeshift shaft and fractured his hand. The other two have bruises on their back,” the official said.
Residents of Peru Chawl, on hearing the news of the fire, ran out with some of their belongings and cooking gas cylinders. “We had just finished our lunch and were about to lie down when we saw the smoke coming out,” said Shobha Shelar, a resident.
“I lost everything. Lights worth Rs 2 lakh and other valuables are charred now,” said Chanda Hublikar, one of the sub-tenants of Kamani mill.
“Khimchand Chawla, a tenant on the mill land, sub-leased the land to the present gala owners. We called up his son, he informed us that Khimchand was admitted in KEM hospital. But when we went to KEM, we learnt that he was shifted to a private hospital. Till late evening, we failed to get in touch with him,” said Senior Police Inspector Ramesh Bhikulal Poman of Kalachowkey Police Station.
The Chawlas could not be reached for comment.
Adjacent to the Kamani mill are two huge godowns rented to an oil packaging unit and a printing and binding company. “The oil packaging unit has 12 huge oil containers and many lubricants packs. A major tragedy was averted. If this godown had caught fire there would have been casualties,” said Nitin Ghadik, a resident of the chawl.