Tragic Fire in Mumbai Slum Claims Seven Lives Due to Negligent Kerosene Storage

A devastating fire in a Chembur East slum has resulted in the tragic deaths of seven members of the Gupta family, highlighting serious safety concerns in densely populated areas. The blaze, which erupted around 4:45 am on Sunday, was ignited by a Navratri diya in the family's ground-floor puja room and quickly spread to their adjoining kirana shop, where 25 liters of kerosene were illegally stored.

The fire rapidly engulfed the building, with flames and smoke reaching the first floor by 5 am. The victims included Manju Prem Gupta (30), Prem Chediram Gupta (30), Anita Dharmdev Gupta (39), Gitadevi Gupta (60), and three children: Presi Prem Gupta (6), Narendra Gupta (10), and Vidhi Chediram Gupta (15). All seven were declared dead upon arrival at Rajawadi Hospital.

Fortunately, two family members managed to escape: Dharam Dev Gupta (45) and his father Chediram Gupta (70). Chediram was alerted to the fire when he woke to use the restroom and noticed the flames. Neighbors reported his desperate cries for help as he and Dharam managed to flee the inferno.

Darpan S, a rescuer on the scene, described the harrowing conditions as the fire spread quickly. “We tried to help as soon as we realized what was happening, but the smoke had already begun to affect many inside,” he noted.

The tragedy deepened when Vanita Gupta, Chediram’s daughter, learned of the catastrophe. Initially unaware of the extent of the disaster, she arrived to find her family devastated. “I heard that my sister-in-law had died, but the loss of the others was beyond what I could fathom,” she lamented.

Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar confirmed that the kerosene played a significant role in escalating the fire's intensity. “The diya fell, igniting the wood, and the kerosene made the situation far worse,” he explained. The lack of an escape route also contributed to the fatalities, as the structure had only one entrance and exit.

Vishwas Mote, Assistant Commissioner of the M West ward, announced that a thorough investigation is underway. The narrow streets of Siddharth Nagar, a slum rehabilitation project stalled since 2021, complicated access for fire services, necessitating the use of extended hoses from a distance.

In response to this tragedy, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh for the families of the victims and assured free medical treatment for the injured at government hospitals. During his visit to the site, he expressed his condolences and promised comprehensive support for the affected families, while also ordering a high-level inquiry to prevent such incidents in the future. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and other officials accompanied him during the inspection.