Structural works might have triggered fire: Sources

Mumbai: Interior structural works at the seventh floor of the Techniplus building, Goregaon, may have triggered the fire, sources claimed. Fire brigade officials revealed that the fire started from the seventh floor of the building although the inquiry is still underway to pin-point the exact cause of the blaze. The fire claimed the lives of four people Sunday evening while nine others sustained injuries.

An employee who did not wish to be named said, “The seventh floor office was undergoing structural works like cabin set-up, installation of computers and other changes. The fire may have started while the workers were engaged in cable works. The investigation is going on internally too.”

The Mumbai fire brigade (MFB) was alerted about a level 3 fire at 5pm on Sunday. The fire officials faced increased risk of evacuation as the glass façade building caused smoke to clog inside the building from the seventh to the 12th floor. The building is a 12-storeyed structure with a basement, two podiums and nine floors above it.

“There is no clarity on the cause of the fire so far. The investigation is on and it will take another three to four days to find out the exact reason which triggered the fire,” said P.S. Rahangdale, chief fire officer, MFB.

The four workers who lost their lives in the fire include Naimuddin Shah (25), Ramavtar (45), Ram Tirathpal (45) and Samshad Shah (35). Of the four, two were found dead in the lift during the rescue operation.