Fire Breaks Out at Income Tax Office at Churchgate in Mumbai

A fire broke out at Aayakar Bhavan, the Income Tax Department’s office at Churchgate in Mumbai, on Monday afternoon, sending thick smoke through the six-storey building and prompting more than a thousand employees to rush outside. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

The fire, classified by officials as a Level II or major blaze, was reported at 2:01 pm. Although the fire remained confined to the basement, employees said thick smoke rapidly spread through the upper floors of the building. Staff members gathered outside as firefighting and rescue operations got underway.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the blaze ignited electrical wiring, other electrical installations, records stored in cabins, scrap material, discarded records, paper stock, and wooden partitions. Fire brigade sources indicated that the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit.

Around 20 firefighters and eight fire engines were deployed to the site to control the blaze. Emergency personnel broke glass windows to ventilate the heavily smoke-logged structure.

The BMC stated that 15 employees were evacuated from the first, second, and third floors via the staircase. Another six people were brought down from the first floor using a ladder, while eight individuals who had taken refuge on the building's terrace were also safely brought down using a ladder.

Santosh Sawant, deputy chief fire officer, said approximately 1,500 people were inside the building when the fire started. The basement spans 12,000 square feet, of which around 5,000 square feet was affected by the blaze. Sawant noted that the fire was largely contained within trunks, racks, and cupboards.

Sawant added that firefighters had to exercise caution during the operation due to the presence of sensitive documents inside the premises, ensuring that firefighting efforts did not damage them. Fire personnel carried out floor-wise evacuations using three staircases as well as ladders.