The devastating fire that swept through two illegal rooftop resto-bars located within the Kamala Mills Compound in Mumbai has left 14 people dead and nearly 50 injured, raising questions on the civic rules being brazenly flouted by the city’s upscale pubs and restaurants.
The fire, which destroyed the lounge bar 1Above as well as the adjacent Mojo’s Bistro, trapped guests in enclosed, windowless spaces with narrow exits.
All the casualties were due to suffocation, and most of them were women who were attending birthday parties or family gatherings.
Fire Spread From 1Above
According to the police the blaze started around midnight in 1Above then spread to the nearby canopied interiors of Mojo’s, but the cause of the fire is as yet not clear.
Both these establishments were located on the terrace of the Trade House building which had three floors. The rooftop area of the two eateries were separated by a partition, and was accessible only via a narrow staircase.
Kamala Mills, a prime spot in Lower Parel’s mill district, hosts nearly 35 restaurants and bars in addition to corporate offices and media houses.
Both Establishments In Violation of Building Rules
Both 1Above and Mojo’s were in violation of licensing rules that require coverage for outdoor areas and were illegally serving food and liquor along with hookahs. 1Above also had constructed an illegal toilet in the terrace area.
S Jaykumar, additional commissioner of police stated that the three partners owning 1Above had been booked for the violations. The manager has also been booked.
Cases have also been booked against the owners and manager under provisions of the IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and for endangering lives.
The partners booked are Kripesh Sanghavi, Jigar Sanghavi and Abhijeet Mankar of Sigrid Ospitalia, which a hospitality company.
The fire was doused nearly six hours after it started at around 6.30 am. Most of the bodies were found in washrooms where people had apparently sought shelter against the heat.
BMC Issued Several Notices Earlier This Year
BMC assistant municipal commissioner Prashant Sapkale noted that the BMC had issued notices to the two lounges earlier this year for building violations and also for using the terrace for serving food and drinks without necessary permissions.
He stated that the establishments had been prosecuted in the months of March, May and August for operating the open terrace and in September, seizure action had been taken. He further added that some sections had been demolished in August. Notices were also issued for serving hookahs illegally, he said.
The BMC notice reportedly stated that the establishment was making unauthorized use of terrace premises for “eating house” and was also serving hooking without permissions which was “dangerous to life and health of general public.”
Rooftop Made Of Combustible Materials Crashed
According to Fire brigade officials the blaze spread swiftly due to the combustible materials used in the interiors.
A fire officer noted that the rooftop crashed which made it difficult for people to escape and for carrying out the fire fighting activities. He further noted that the entry and exit passages were “extremely narrow” which made it difficult for people to escape .
The blaze was most intense in the bar area of the restaurant . Two ladders had to be used for rescuing 30 people who had escaped to an open lobby in adjoining side of the building.
According to one of the survivors, Pratik Thakur, most people didn’t realise that the fire would spread so fast and many “drunk patrons” didn’t comprehend what was happening.
Some eye witnesses stated that the fire may have started due to a live coal inside a hookah pot coming in contact with a cloth. Others stated that the bar staff was doing fire stunts in the bar which may have started the fire.
BMC Officials Suspended, Inquiry Ordered
Police and fire brigade officials have said that they are investigating the cause of fire, and the possibility of a short circuit. Five junior BMC officials have been suspended by the civic body along with one fire official for negligence.
Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta has transferred ward officer of G-north ward to K-east ward, and also launched an inquiry. BMC has submitted a report to the state government on the incident noting that “gross negligence bordering on connivance” was observed.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned that action would be taken against any BMC officials who are proven to have shielded the restaurants’ owners . He also stated that the incident may cause a review of BMC’s plans to permit rooftop restaurants or bars in the city.
