Two senior citizen friends suffocate as blaze rages at Bhendi Bazaar building

MUMBAI: Two senior citizens died and 11 persons felt suffocated in a blaze in the 100-plus year-old five-storey Punjab Mahal building at Bhendi Bazaar on Thursday night.
The fire engulfed large portions of the third and fourth floors around 10.30pm. Many residents ran out of the building, but Farida Master (60) and Nafeesa Geetham (60), who were on the fourth floor, did not. The fire was extinguished at 3.05am on Friday. Many residents shifted to a community hall nearby.
Fire brigade officials said two bodies were found when they were about to call off the rescue operations. Chief fire officer P S Rahangdale said, “When our fire vehicles reached the site, there was chaos in the area. Everyone started coming out of the building. Nobody told us there were two women missing. Few hours later, when we were about to call off fire-fighting operations, we were told that they were missing. Earlier, third floor residents said all had come out of their homes.” There was chaos due to the narrow lanes and Ramzan crowd, it is learned.
Fire brigade officials went up to look for the two but did not find anyone in rooms residents had directed them to. “Finally, we broke into a room where the two were together. They probably suffocated as there were no burn injuries,” said a fire brigade officer. It is learnt that Nafeesa had come to meet Farida.
Farida’s relative, Shabbir Hussain, from Vasai, told TOI, “All other family members were rushing out as soon as they saw smoke. My sister-in-law could not get out as she was scared. The smoke was too much. She and her friend got caught inside and died.”
Saifuddin C, a resident who was admitted along with his wife to JJ hospital, said, “I was praying when my son informed me about the smell of smoke. I ran into the kitchen, but there was nothing. When I ran out, I could see the fire spreading. My wife and I fainted. It was horrible. Other residents helped us come out. My son had his last engineering exam on Friday. I came in the morning from hospital to get his hall ticket.”
Fire brigade officials said the injured included three firemen and a station officer. Some residents said the fire was due to an air-conditioner blast but fire brigade officials said investigations were on. Municipal commissioner Praveen Pardesi visited the area around midnight.
JJ Hospital doctors said the 11 complained of uneasiness and difficulty in breathing, but none had serious burn injuries. Five were treatment on an OPD basis, while the remaining sought discharge against medical advice. Medical superintendent Dr Sanjay Surase said the two senior citizens were dead by the time they reached hospital. Their bodies were later sent to Nagpada police hospital for autopsy.