Mumbai: BMC appoints former fire chief to probe Bhandup tragedy

The fire was put out only on Saturday afternoon. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has directed former Fire Chief PS Rahangdale, currently the Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the Disaster Management, to probe the fire that broke out inside Dreams Mall at Bhandup, and submit a detailed report within 15 days. The fire that had started late on Thursday night, was extinguished only on Saturday afternoon around 3 pm. Meanwhile, the police too have taken cognisance of the matter and registered an FIR and booked six for culpable homicide.

The fire that broke out on Thursday had started on the lower floors of the mall and later spread to the upper floors, causing the smoke to reach the hospital, which also was affected severely in the incident.

Nine patients undergoing treatment at the Sunrise Hospital for COVID-19 lost their lives. Questions over how a hospital was allowed inside a mall, how no action was taken despite complaints made by local corporators to the BMC, and the allegations over civic officials being involved in illegalities had risen following the fire incident.

The commissioner has thus directed Rahangdale to identify the cause of fire and, in consultation with the Chief Fire Officer, to verify whether all the necessary permissions and licenses had been issued to the mall as well as the hospital.

They have also been asked to investigate if there were any lapses by the mall and hotel management regarding fire safety.

One civic official, said, "Prima facie it looks like all permissions for the hospital were in place but the problems were inside the mall where the fire-fighting equipment was not in working condition; a detailed probe is needed."

Police have booked the mall administration and hospital authorities for culpable homicide. The accused are: Directors of Dreams Mall, Rakesh Wadhwan, Sarang Wadhwan and directors of Sunrise Hospital Dr Nikita Trehan, Amit Singh Trehan and Sweety Jain. The hospital has, however, blamed National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) appointed administrators for negligence causing fire.

Bhandup police had initially registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). During preliminary investigation, however, they felt that mall authorities and hospital authorities didn't take necessary precautions to ensure that fire fighting system was in place.

"We have found certain lapses from mall authorities and hospital administration, and based on this we have filed FIRs against them" said a senior police official. The police registered an FIR on Friday night under IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 34 (common intention). The mall management is currently in a dispute with its 1,108 stall owners.

The dispute is now being heard at the NCLT which appointed an administrator in 2018. The Sunrise Hospital authorities have blamed NCLT-appointed administrators for the fire. Satyendra Tiwari, authorised signatory for the hospital has written a letter to the Bhandup police saying that NCLT-appointed Rahul Sahastrabuddhe should have ensured that all security measures are in place. The hospital also claimed to have a fire department NOC with them.

The fire incident will be probed by Assistant Police commissioner (Mulund Division) Priya Dhakane. After registration of the FIR, the probe was transferred to ACP. "We are trying to find out whether there is any CCTV footage available."

‘BMC should not have given nod to the mall'
On Saturday, nobody was allowed in the mall and the electricity supply had to be shut down. The condition of the mall is worrying the shopkeepers. Kumar Dande, who runs an insurance office in the mall said, "Many questions have been raised about the mall's water connection and fire safety policy, which will affect insurance. BMC should not have given permission for the mall to operate. The administrator collected R4.5 crores in the last two years but they were taking salary of Rs 2 lakh a month."

By Priti Khuman Thakur