Fire death toll rises to 7 in Mumbai

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-12-14 14:30:27

Death poll rose to seven in massive fire that broke out at a high-rise building in Mumbai, India on Friday evening, local fire officials said Saturday.

The 12th floor of the 26-storey Mont Blanc in South Mumbai's Kemps Corner area caught fire at 19:30 local time. More than two dozen fire engines were deployed to fight the fire.

The bodies of the seven dead were taken to various hospitals in the city. Officials have not been able to identify five out of those seven bodies as they were charred beyond recognition.

More than 20 people were rescued from the building, officials said. The floor was gutted in the blaze completely. It took fire engines three hours to douse the blaze.

Two fire officials and four firemen were injured while trying to rescue the people. They have been moved to a hospital for treatment.

The deputy chief of the Mumbai fire department said they were able to evacuate people living below the 12th floor, whilst those living on the 14th and the 15th floors were shifted to the top floor.

The fire caused blast of domestic gas cylinders and spread to higher floors, trapping many people. The exact cause of the fire is unknown.

A total of 52 families reside in the building, which was constructed in 1984. The building has two three-bedroom apartments on each floor.

Posted in: Asia-Pacific

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