Man Dies, Wife and Two Firefighters Injured in Bandra West Building Fire
A 64-year-old man died, while his wife and two firefighters were injured after a fire broke out late on Wednesday night on the top floor of the Atlantic Building on Sherly Rajan Road in Bandra West, Mumbai. The incident, which was reported at 9:12 p.m., prompted a major emergency response before the blaze was brought under control near midnight.
The deceased was identified as Azim Barodawala, 64. Civic authorities confirmed he was brought dead to Bhabha Hospital. His wife was injured in the incident but was successfully rescued from the burning building by emergency responders.
The two injured firefighters were identified as Shivshankar Bharat Puri, 32, and Navnath Mohan Bite, 34, both attached to the Bandra Fire Station. Both were admitted to Bhabha Hospital after suffering from suffocation during the rescue and firefighting operation.
According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the blaze was upgraded to a Level-I fire at 9:55 p.m. It spread through the electrical wiring, installations, and household items in Rooms 701 and 702 on the top floor of the ground-plus-seven-storey residential building. The fire was eventually extinguished at 11:50 p.m. following an intensive joint operation by the fire brigade, local police, 108 ambulance services, Adani Electricity staff, and ward officials.
Local residents reported that the fire was caused by an air-conditioner blast in the deceased's flat. According to a resident, the blast occurred while Barodawala was in the washroom, causing the ceiling to collapse and trapping him inside. The fire then quickly spread across the floor, intensifying near the refrigerator area.
Fahima Sheikh, a resident living behind the building, stated she heard screams and witnessed firefighters rescuing Barodawala's wife by pulling her out of the building. However, they were unable to save Barodawala due to the intensity of the flames.
Another resident of Sherly Rajan Road claimed that firefighters arrived at the scene at 9:00 p.m., approximately an hour after the suspected blast. Official investigators have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire, and an inquiry is underway. A security guard at the Atlantic Building stated that residents have been asked to temporarily move out of the building with their belongings.
