Massive fire at Mumbai mall: 2 firemen injured; 3,500 people evacuated from adjacent building

Mumbai fire brigade personnel are engaged in controlling the blaze at a mall 12 hours after fire broke out there, even as around 3500 people from an adjoining building were evacuated

Mumbai: Two firemen were injured and around 3,500 people were evacuated from a 55-storey building in Mumbai early Friday after a fire in a neighbouring mall escalated to level 5.

A major fire erupted at the City Center Mall in Mumbai Central area at 8.50 pm on Thursday. Around 300 people were rescued from the basement plus three-storey mall after the fire broke out, an official said.

At least 24 fire engines, 16 jumbo tankers and 250 fire brigade personnel are at the spot trying to control the blaze.

It was originally a level 1 fire that was reported at the mall around 8.53 pm Thursday. It later escalated to level 3 and then level 5, following which more support from the fire brigade was called in at 2:41 am Friday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No one was injured. The fire had spread to the second and third floors of the mall.

As per the primary information, the fire originated at the mobile, printer, stationary and furniture shops on the second floor from which it spread to the third floor, said an official communication from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and other officials visited the site on Thursday night to check the situation.