Mumbai: Four people, including two children, were killed and five injured after a fire broke out in a residential building in Andheri (East) early on Thursday morning. A senior doctor said two of the deceased had suffered more than 80 per cent burn injuries while the two others had choked on the smoke, which had resulted in their death by asphyxia.
The preliminary investigation suggests that a short circuit in an air conditioner caused the fire in Maimoon Manzil in Bhori colony. “A small part of the AC machine, which was believed to be aflame, fell on 14-year-old Sakina, who was sleeping. Her screams woke up brother Mohsin, who alerted their father, mother Tasleen and grandfather Dawood,” said one of the tenants, narrating the sequence of events.
The father went out of the room to get help but the others could not get out as the door has an automatic lock. “The mother and the son went and hid in the bathroom, where they died of suffocation. The girl and the grandfather died of burn injuries,” said an official. The deceased were identified as Sakina A Kapasi (14), Mohsin A Kapasi (10), Tasleem A Kapasi (42) and Dawood Ali Kapasi (80). They were all residing in a flat on the third floor of the four-storey building.
According to Prabhat Rahangdale, chief fire officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade, four people were rescued from the 3rd floor and admitted at Cooper Municipal General Hospital; five others were rescued from the 4th floor and admitted at Holy Spirit Hospital. Eight people were rescued from the 4th and the 2nd floor. Overall, 17 people were rescued.
Mohsin A Kapasi (10), Sakina A Kapasi (14) and Tasleem A Kapasi (42) died in the fire. Their father (in the foreground) survived – he had stepped out for help. Family was unable to get out as there was an automatic lock on the door. The grandfather (80) also died.
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