Mumbai fire LIVE: Violations at site of blaze, untrained staff, non-functional fire equipment

There were a number of violations at the site of a fire which killed at least 14 people in Lower Parel in Mumbai. Stay on this page for live updates: India Today's Sahil Joshi, Virendrasingh Ghunawat, Mustafa Shaikh, Mayuresh Ganapatye and Vidya bring you the latest updates.

IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Ganesh Kumar Radha Udayakumar
Mumbai and New Delhi, December 29, 2017 | UPDATED 12:12 IST

Highlights

  • 1
    Multiple violations at site: single staircase for entry exit, poor ventilation
  • 2
    Fire exit blocked, fire equipment not functioning
  • 3
    Owners, manager of pub booked, charged with culpable homicide

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.

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."

For the latest updates from the Mumbai fire, stay on this live blog. Read our full report here, and see pictures and watch videos here.

The latest from Mumbai | WATCH LIVE TV

12:11 AM: A 29-year-old woman who was celebrating her birthday was among those who died at the pub in Kamala Mills. Read our full report here.

11:56 AM: Congress president Rahul Gandhi joined several leaders in tweeting condolence messages after the Kamala Mills fire.

VIDEO |An clip of the Kamala Mills fire filmed by an onlooker (Video: Twitter/@nigel_pais)