Mumbai Chawl Fire Claims Woman’s Life, Two Others Battle for Survival in Andheri East

Mumbai | Undercover Editor News Channel

Mumbai: A tragic fire incident at a residential chawl in Andheri East has claimed the life of a 45-year-old woman, while two other residents remain in critical condition, civic officials confirmed on Sunday.

The fire broke out in the early hours of December 21 at Vijay Nagar, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar Chawl, triggering panic among residents of the densely populated area. According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the incident was reported at around 7:16 am and originated inside Room No. 10 on the first floor of a ground-plus-one chawl structure.

Fire officials said the blaze was largely confined to electrical wiring, electrical installations, clothes, and mattresses within the room. Firefighters rushed to the spot and managed to bring the fire under control within half an hour. The blaze was completely extinguished by 7:44 am, preventing it from spreading further.

However, the incident later turned fatal. Veena Pradip Bhoite, who sustained severe burn injuries in the fire, was admitted to Kasturba Hospital for treatment. Despite medical efforts, hospital authorities declared her dead at 10:03 pm on December 24, officials said.

Two other residents — Namdeo Sakpal and Laxmi Sakpal — also suffered serious injuries in the incident. Both are currently undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kasturba Hospital and are on oxygen support. Their condition continues to be critical, doctors said.

Civic authorities have launched an inquiry to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, with preliminary findings pointing towards a possible electrical short circuit. Further investigation is underway.

The incident once again highlights concerns over fire safety in densely populated chawl areas, where ageing electrical systems and congested living conditions pose serious risks to residents.