A fire broke out early Sunday morning at a commercial building located on L.T. Marg in Fort, near Crawford Market, causing panic among shopkeepers and locals in the busy business district. According to officials, the incident was reported at around 6:20 am at the Umarikar Building. The blaze was largely confined to four to five shops situated on the ground floor, but thick smoke quickly spread to a similar number of adjoining units, raising concerns about further damage. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties have been reported so far, and authorities are continuing to assess the extent of losses.
Upon receiving the alert, fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and immediately began efforts to contain the blaze. Firefighters worked swiftly to prevent the flames from spreading to other parts of the building, eventually bringing the situation under control. Their prompt response ensured that a potentially larger disaster was avoided in the densely packed commercial area. Preliminary findings suggest that the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit, although the exact cause is yet to be officially confirmed. Further investigation is underway to determine the origin and assess structural and financial damage.
In another incident, a Level-I fire broke out late Sunday night near D B Marg, opposite Reliance Mall in Mumbai Central, affecting several shops and rooms in a chawl. Emergency teams, including the BMC fire brigade, police, BEST staff, and ward officials, quickly reached the spot and worked together to control the blaze. Despite the fire spreading through the congested area, no injuries or casualties were reported. Their swift response helped prevent the flames from extending to nearby structures, ensuring the safety of residents and limiting the scale of the damage in the locality.
Congress MLA Amin Patel said the fire likely started due to an electrical short circuit between 10:30 pm and 10:45 pm. He noted that although the upper residential portion was vacant, the building was already in a fragile condition, leading to significant property damage. The fire is now largely under control, though firefighting and cooling operations are ongoing and may continue into the next day. Patel also highlighted that parts of the structure have become dangerously unstable and may need demolition, with MHADA expected to assess and take necessary action.