Mumbai, Dec 29: Eye-witness accounts revealed that there was complete confusion among people regarding exit routes, which delayed evacuation when fire engulfed a pub in a building in Mumbai’s Lower Parel area. A security guard revealed that customers had no idea about proper exits and they took shelter in toilets to save themselves. Some patrons of ‘1 Above’ were busy taking selfies instead of saving themselves. Some customers of the pub were immobilized as they were drunk, which further delayed evacuation. (Also read: Hema Malini Blames ‘Huge Population’ For Mumbai’s Kamala Mill Fire)
Reports said that customers were confused about the exit; hence, they locked themselves in toilets. The blaze started at a rooftop pub during a party and spread rapidly. 14 people, including 11 women, lost their lives in the tragic incident. Among the dead were Khusbhu Bansali, who was celebrating her 29th birthday, and her friends. (Also read: Kamala Mills Fire: Is Police-politics-administration Nexus Responsible For The Tragedy?)
“At around ten minutes past midnight, I got out of my office after hearing commotion. A sea of people came rushing at me. They were basically running wherever the pathway led them to. They came up by the lift and knew nothing about the place, like the proper exit. I guided about 150-200 people as I knew the way down,” Mahesh Sable, who works for a private security agency, told PTI.
He said that some customers sheltered themselves in restrooms as they didn’t know the exit doors. After guiding the initial lot of people, he again rushed to save others and could pull out 10 more people with burn injuries. He could not go inside after that as the entire place was in flames.
His colleague Sanjay Giri said that some people were drunk and some were taking selfie, which delayed the evacuation. “I guided whoever we could see. It was later, after we went down, that they told us about their relatives and friends being stuck in the toilet. A few voice and video calls were also made,” he added.
54 people were admitted to various hospitals. Out of the injured, 41 were discharged whereas 13 are still undergoing treatment.
The fire started after 12.30 am at a restaurant named 1 Above and spread on the terrace and also in the pub in Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel.
Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against pub owners. Five officials of Brihanmumbai Corporation have also been suspended.