Fire broke out at a Croma showroom in Bandra West’s Link Square Mall in Mumbai | FPJ/ Salman Ansari
A major fire at Link Square Mall in Bandra West was fully extinguished at 1:41 AM on Wednesday, following over 22 hours of relentless firefighting efforts by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB). Though the blaze was doused, cooling operations continued until evening, with two fire engines and two jumbo tankers stationed on site to prevent reignition.
Preliminary findings suggest that the rapid spread of the fire was due to a non-functional fire-fighting system and the absence of a proper ventilation system in the building. An investigation by the MFB has been launched to examine fire safety compliance and identify violations.
A total of 53 fire engines and equipment, along with 76 officials and 276 firefighters, were deployed by the MFB to bring the massive blaze at Link Square Mall under control. While no casualties were reported, the mall, which housed more than 200 shops and commercial establishments, suffered extensive damage in the fire. However, by Wednesday, the entire building had been reduced to a charred shell, leaving shop owners in a state of despair. Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar confirmed that a formal inquiry will be launched once the cooling operations are completed.
Another fire official said, “The mall contained large amounts of combustible materials and had obstructed access, which made firefighting efforts exceptionally challenging. Partition walls and mesh shutters also contributed to the rapid spread of fire and smoke between the shops. Once the cooling operations are concluded, an inspection and investigation will be conducted by the MFB, followed by the police conducting the panchanama.” Allegations have surfaced regarding illegal alterations in the mall premises. However, senior civic officials have yet to provide any comments on the matter.
NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique had criticised the MFB for its inadequate response to the blaze, which led to the widespread destruction of the entire building. However, fire officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity said “Due to the enclosed ceiling inside the building and the glass walls on the exterior, the smoke and heat that originated from the basement could not escape the structure.
As a result, the intensity of the fire increased, which contributed to its rapid spread from the basement to the roof.” Preliminary findings have also revealed that the building houses three basements, none of which have proper ventilation to allow smoke or heat to escape. This lack of ventilation caused smoke and heat to accumulate rapidly throughout the mall, leading to a significant rise in temperature within the structure and its contents. This, in turn, played a major role in the swift spread of the fire.
The fire brigade will investigate the exact cause of the fire and any violations of fire safety regulations.
