Mumbai: A massive fire broke out in Oshiwara furniture market on Tuesday morning, engulfing at least 100 furniture units consisting wooden items and affecting 350 to 400 units. The blaze escalated due to cylinder blasts and a thick black smog covered the entire locality causing panic among residents and passersby. The fire was declared level II (major) at 11.46 pm.
At least eight fire engines and 10 water tankers were deployed on the spot. The blaze was doused around 6 pm. MFB said that at least 12 to 15 residents were rescued from the fire spot. No injuries were reported in the incident; however, authorities are inspecting if anyone was trapped in the massive fire or any injury has gone unreported.
As per the sources in Mumbai Fire Brigade, the manufacturing and retail wooden furniture units at the Oshiwara furniture marker were unauthorised and BMC ward officials will assess the situation take further actions after the fire is extinguished.
Ajay Bhondave, Designated Officer at K-West ward who was present on the fire spot said, “The fire was massive and inside the furniture market. We cannot confirm now if the units were unauthorised. The inspection will be carried after the situation is under control and appropriate actions will be taken accordingly.”
Deputy Fire Officer, Ravindra Bhosale said, "It is difficult to tell the cause of the fire, however, the blaze escalated as the market consisted of canteens or small kitchens that stored gas cylinders which exploded. The cause of the fire can be determined only after investigation.
The fire was confined to wooden materials, pasting chemicals, electricals etc which emitted massive smog." Bhosale said that the investigation whether the all units were authorised will be conducted by the ward office.
The Oshiwara furniture market is a huge ‘L shape’ market consisting small furniture manufacturing located in Jogeshwari West and has access from SV Road and relief road. Local resident and activist Dhaval Shah said, “Fires at the Oshiwara furniture market are not new. Every couple of year they market catches fire, primarily due to non-compliance of safety standards. Despite, repeated fire incidents, the authorities have failed to take actions.”
Shah said that the thick black smog emitted due wooden items, chemicals and other materials added to the existing air pollution in the area.
“Residents are already suffering due to poor air quality and incidents like this add fuel to the fire. Also, residents, school children and office goers suffered as there was road diversion after the fire broke out. More than 10 fire engines, police vans etc were deployed on both SV Road and relief road,” Shah added.
