IndiaToday.in | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
Mumbai and New Delhi, December 29, 2017 | UPDATED 12:29 IST
There were a number of violations at the site of a fire which killed at least 14 people in Lower Parel in Mumbai. Read on to learn more.
The staff of a rooftop pub in Mumbai's Lower Parel, where a deadly fire broke out early on Friday morning, were found to be ill-equipped to handle such a crisis.
But the presence of untrained staff wasn't the only violation at the site of the blaze, which killed at least 14 people. Ventilation was poor, fire equipment didn't function, and there was a single staircase for people entering and leaving the premises.
India Today has also learned that 1 Above (the name of the establishment, located in the posh Kamala Mills complex) had also blocked the fire exit.
The manager and owners of 1 Above were charged with culpable homicide in an FIR. Police say they're on the run.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had begun taking legal action against the pub earlier this year. The municipal body had granted a license for a restaurant, but not a open, rooftop establishment. The BMC is now conducting a survey with the fire department, and is set to take legal action again.
Activist Mahesh Vengurlekar had filed multiple complaints against illegal structures inside pubs and hotels at Kamala Mills. His complaints - made to the police, the fire and excise departments - fell on deaf ears.
This morning, Prime Minister 
Narendra Modi expressed anguish and said his thoughts were with the bereaved. President Ram Nath Kovind lauded first responders' valiant efforts."
Read our full report on the fire here, and see pictures and watch videos here.
Reporting by India Today's Mumbai bureau.
VIDEO |An clip of the Kamala Mills fire filmed by an onlooker (Video: Twitter/@nigel_pais)
UNBELIEVABLE! Was damn lucky to notice this and raise the alarm in time #KamalaMills#Firepic.twitter.com/Yx2Dt9qLGB
- Dramatical Error (@nigel_pais) December 28, 2017
