Mumbai: An attempt to take refuge in a window grille after their house caught fire proved fatal for a child and another family member. Both were charred to death when the fire gutted the apartment, located on the 10th floor of a 21-storey building at Veera Desai Road in suburban Andheri, on Tuesday night.
The incident took place at around 8.30 pm. The deceased were identified as Vicky Sharma (25) and Sagar (7) who were charred to death while three other family members were rescued by the fire brigade team from the bedroom where they rushed to take refuge.
The Oshiwara police registered an accidental death report in connection with the fire that gutted the apartment resulting in death of the duo. Officials found that the two were caught in the fire as they came near the window to escape however it had a safety grill to it. The incident took place when the family was performing a puja, officials said.
The deceased entered the space in the safety grille in a bid to escape but the flames were intense and they were caught between the metal grille and fire.
“The duo could not escape on the other side like the other survivors as the fire spread fast inside the 10th floor flat.
The bodies were later found in the grille by the fire fighters. Among those rescued, one person is undergoing treatment for 25 per cent burn injuries,” said an officer.
After the incident was reported, five fire engines and four jumbo water tankers were sent to the spot for rescue operations. The fire was spreading to the 11th floor which was contained and people were evacuated.
The police officials are now probing the incident to ascertain the cause of fire and they would also begin recording statements of the survivors to ascertain sequence of incident.
