In a major incident that has shaken up the civic administration, nine people including five children and a pregnant woman, were killed and a fireman was injured when a fire caused by suspected short circuit broke out in a medical store in a chawl in Juhu in Andheri this morning.
The fire broke out shortly after the morning 6 am namaaz at the 40-year-old Wafa medical store located on the ground floor of the Mestri Chawl in Juhu Galli’s Wireless Road in Andheri. The fire trapped the 13-member family of Mohazzam Khan, who owns Wafa medical store, and a garment shop in the vicinity, on the first and second floor of the chawl.
While Mohazzam and his sons Imtiaz and Nizamuddin tried to douse the fire, nine other members of the family were trapped in the dark smoke and were unable to escape. The deaceased were identified as Husaif Khan, Tubbah Khan, Altmas Khan, both three months old, Shabbunisa Khan, 52, Siddiq Khan, 35, Rabilyal Khan 28, Umi Hami Khan, 5, Aliza Khan, 4, while 28-year-old Sofiyat Khan who was rushed to Kasturba Hospital with 40 per cent burns succumbed at the hospital.
A fireman Avinash Shirgaonkar, who suffered minor injuries, was treated at Cooper Hospital, and allowed to go.
The fire brigade faced difficulties reaching the fire swiftly due to narrow lanes, and the crowd that assembled as the fire spread. Fire brigade officials said the fire control received the first report of the fire at 06.18 am and three fire engines, a water tanker, and two ambulances arrived at the spot at 6.37 am. The fire level was raised to Level 1 at 7.15 am. The fire was brought under control within one hour.
“I would give Rs 5 each of grand children every day, but now who will ask me for chocolates. I was soon going to be buy new clothes for Eid for them,” an inconsolable Mohazzam, who lost four grand children in the fire, said.
