Mumbai: A massive fire broke out early Wednesday morning in a 14-storey residential building at the upscale Lokhandwala Complex in Andheri West, resulting in the tragic death of three people. The blaze, which erupted on the 10th floor of the Riya Palace building around 8 am, has left residents in shock and raised concerns about fire safety and accessibility in the area.
The deceased have been identified as Chandraprakash Soni (74), his wife Kanta Soni (74), and their house help, Pelubeta (42). All three were inside the flat when the fire broke out and were unable to escape before being fatally injured by the flames. Neighbors alerted the fire brigade as soon as the blaze was spotted. They were immediately rushed to Cooper Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.
The couple is survived by two sons, one currently residing in the United States and the other in Singapore.
According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) and civic officials, the blaze was reported at around 8:05 am. Eyewitnesses bhi described seeing flames and thick clouds of dark smoke billowing from the windows of the Sonis’ flat. The fire was intense but largely contained to the 10th-floor residence, sparing the other flats in the building from direct damage.
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Residents of the building recalled the terrifying moments when they realized a fire had broken out. Many living on the same and higher floors rushed out of their homes and gathered in the society garden, fearing the spread of the fire. “The flat was engulfed in flames, and we saw thick smoke covering the entire floor. It was terrifying, and everyone was in a panic,” said one resident.
One neighbor, describing the tragic outcome, said, “It appeared that the people inside the flat were charred to death. The senior couple and the third person must not have had time to escape from the smoke and fire. It was horrifying to think they were trapped.”
The MFB responded to the emergency call by dispatching several fire engines, water tankers, and ambulances to the scene. The fire brigade worked swiftly, bringing the fire under control within an hour by around 9 am. Despite their quick response, the narrow roads leading to the Lokhandwala Complex slowed down rescue operations.
Residents and citizen groups in the area raised concerns about this issue, which has long been debated. The Andheri-Lokhandwala-Oshiwara Citizens Association pointed out that fire engines had to navigate narrow roads due to ongoing redevelopment projects in the vicinity. “The fire brigade comes from Irla, and owing to the narrow roads in the Lokhandwala Complex, precious time, often called the ‘golden hour’ is lost. This delay can cost lives. We need to prioritize road-widening in light of all the redevelopment happening across the city,” said Dhaval Shah, from the association.
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Although the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, officials at the scene suggested that the blaze may have been triggered by a short circuit. Preliminary reports indicate that the fire might have started from the flat’s air conditioning unit, but this remains under investigation. The authorities have sent the bodies of the three deceased for autopsy, and further forensic examination will determine the cause of death and verify the source of the fire.
Chandraprakash Soni owned a shipping company called Avalon, located in the RNA Shopping Complex, also in Lokhandwala.
The Lokhandwala community has expressed its shock over the tragic loss of life and called for stronger safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident has once again raised questions about the preparedness and infrastructure of Mumbai’s high-rises, particularly in rapidly redeveloping areas like Lokhandwala.