Major blaze in upscale Bandra bldg, 20 rescued

Mumbai: A major fire broke out in an upscale Bandra building on Waterfield Road on Sunday evening. 

    Fire bridge personnel rescued around 20 people, including women, who were trapped inside Silver Pearl building. The ground-plusfive-storey structure houses commercial establishments, but most of them were closed for Sunday, except for two gyms on the first and fourth floors. One of the gyms was exclusively for children. 
    Sixteen fire engines were pressed into service and they took nearly two hours to bring the blaze under control. The power supply to the building was cut off to prevent further damage. 
    The Bandra police registered a case of an accidental fire. "We rescued all the people trapped inside and no one sustained injury," said inspector Rajendra Kane. The police said prima facie, the fire could be a result of a short-circuit. Further probe is on. 
LUCKY ESCAPE 
    The last person to be rescued was John Bosco (36), who was brought out of the third 
    floor that houses 
    the office of a 
    branded accessory maker. The 
    fire had spread on 
    lower floors and he was screaming for help from an open window. He then called his manager who alerted the fire brigade. The personnel had already rescued 19 people from the first-floor gym and was searching for more survivors. When they learnt about Bosco, they positioned their ladder near the window and another team entered the office through the stairs. 
    "There was no fire in my office but floors below were badly damaged. I stayed put in office and did not run downstairs," Bosco said. TNN

Sixteen fire engines took two hours to bring the fire under control