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Fri, 29 December 2017
Corrupt functioning of civic body caused Kamala Mills fire: Oppn
Timeline Refresh
23:38 RSS, allied bodies meet with Shah, Jaitley over govt policies
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its allied bodies gave their feedback and suggestions to further improve the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's economic policies to party chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, sources said today.
The suggestions were shared during a two-day coordination meeting between the RSS, its allied organisations and the BJP in New Delhi.
The meeting was attended by Sangh Joint General Secretary Krishna Gopal, leaders of RSS-affiliates the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the Bhartiya Kisan Sangh, the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, the Sahakar Bharati, the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat and the Laghu Udyog Bharti, sources said.
While the BJP was represented by Shah, Jaitley and a few other ministers represented the government, they added.
During the meeting, the RSS-affiliated organisations shared their views and gave feedbacks about the centre's economic policies, sources said.
The Swadeshi Jagran Manch expressed concerns about rising Chinese imports and its harmful effects on indigenous small scale industries, they said, adding that similar sentiments were echoed by the Laghu Udyog Bharti.
The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh raised issues of farmers being forced to sell produce below the support price announced by the Centre, the sources said, adding both Shah and Jaitley gave assurances that the suggestions and concerns would be considered and appropriate action taken. -- PTI
23:16 Corrupt functioning of civic body caused Kamala Mills fire: Oppn
Opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party today slammed the Mumbai civic administration and the state government for the Kamala Mills fire that killed 14 people and injured several others.
They demanded a high-level probe into the tragedy and said strict action should be taken against erring officials.
Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged corrupt practices and functioning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
"The Opposition rejects the government's stand to hold an inquiry into the incident by the BMC commissioner. The BMC is responsible for the fire and it is inappropriate to announce a probe headed by the BMC commissioner," Vikhe Patil said.
He alleged the BJP-led dispensation in the state was ignoring corruption in the Sena-run BMC to ensure stability of the state government. The state is run by a BJP-Sena alliance government.
Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam, demanding a probe, said the fire was a result of "clear violation of fire and safety norms".
"In a small area like the Kamala Mills compound, 96 restaurants have come up with zero fire protection. No fire audits have taken place either," he alleged, holding the BMC, the fire brigade and the Maharashtra government answerable.
"All the BMC officials working in that particular ward have to be suspended because fire norms have been violated and that has caused these deaths," Nirupam said.
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ashok Chavan said that over the last few days, there have been incidents of fire in different parts of the city and innocent people have lost their lives.
He alleged that the civic administration and the state government were just paying lip services and not taking any tough action to curb these irregularities.
Mumbai NCP president Sachin Ahir said the corrupt functioning of the BMC was responsible for the death of innocent people.
He demanded action against guilty officials and maximum compensation to the kin of those dead and injured. -- PTI
22:44 Bitcoin, other virtual currencies like Ponzi schemes: Govt
The government on Friday cautioned investors to be wary of virtual currencies like Bitcoin, saying they are like Ponzi schemes with no legal tender and protection.
"There is a real and heightened risk of investment bubble of the type seen in Ponzi schemes which can result in sudden and prolonged crash exposing investors, especially retail consumers losing their hard-earned money. Consumers need to be alert and extremely cautious as to avoid getting trapped in such Ponzi schemes," the finance ministry said in a statement.
VCs are stored in digital/electronic format, making them vulnerable to hacking, loss of password, malware attack etc. which may also result in permanent loss of money, it said.
Noting that there has been a phenomenal increase in recent times in the price of virtual currencies including Bitcoin, in India and globally, it said, the VCs don't have any intrinsic value and are not backed by any kind of assets.
"The price of Bitcoin and other VCs, therefore, is entirely a matter of mere speculation resulting in spurt and volatility in their prices," it said.
Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Finance Pon Radhakrishanan in the Lok Sabha said the Department of Economic Affairs had constituted an inter-disciplinary committee to examine the existing global regulatory and legal structures governing Bitcoin; suggest the framework for regulation of Bitcoin if among others etc.
The committee has submitted its report which is under consideration of the government, the minister said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
The Finance Ministry statement further said that users, holders and traders of VCs have already been cautioned three times by the Reserve Bank of India about the potential financial, operational, legal, customer protection and security related risks that they are exposing themselves to by investing in Bitcoin or other such currencies.
The RBI from time to time has also clarified that it has not given any licence or authorisation to any entity to operate such schemes or deal with Bitcoin or any virtual currency, it said. -- PTI
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
21:57 There was a stampede, exit gate was narrow: Mumbai fire survivor
Suffocation and not burn injuries was the cause behind most of the deaths in the Kamala Mills compound fire, according to the survivors undergoing treatment at civic hospitals in Mumbai.
"When fire broke out at the '1 Above' pub, we rushed to exit the place but there was a stampede as the exit gate was narrow," a survivor admitted to the KEM hospital said.
"I suffered 20 per cent burns, while my cousin suffered 35 per cent burns," he said.
Another survivor, S Arora, said she and her group of friends, who were at the pub, noticed a small fire. "Within moments, the entire rooftop, where the pub was located, was engulfed in flames," she said.
"As the fire broke out, most of the people locked themselves in the washroom of the restaurant to esacpe the blaze.
"The smoke must have gone to their nose and mouth. Thus, the cause of death was suffocation and not burn injuries," Harish Pathak, the head of the forensic department at the KEM hospital said.
"Most of the victims had died before reaching the hospital," he said, adding the bodies were handed over to their family members and relatives after post-mortem.
The mortuary and the forensics department area of the KEM hospital saw anxious relatives of the victims scampering to know the status of their kin.
While some fought back tears, others gave into the pain of losing their loved ones. -- PTI
21:51 Himachal Congress MLA slaps woman constable, gets two slaps in return
In a video gone viral, Congress MLA Asha Kumari is seen slapping a woman constable on duty during party chief Rahul Gandhi's visit to Himachal Pradesh, only to get two slaps in return from the police official.
Former minister Dhani Ram Shandil had to intervene to quell the frayed tempers.
The Congress MLA later tendered an apology for the incident, saying "the lady constable misbehaved, abused me and almost beat me, but I should not have lost my calm. I am sorry for the incident".
However, the woman constable has filed a complaint against the Congress legislator.
"An FIR has been registered against Kumari under IPC sections 353 and 332 (assault or use of criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty)," SP, Shimla, Soumya said. -- PTI
20:37 Ockhi cyclone brought tonnes of plastic debris on coasts: Govt
The recent Ockhi cyclone led to a piling up of tonnes of plastic debris along the coasts of Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and particularly along the major beaches of Mumbai, the government today said.
Mahesh Sharma, the minister of state for environment, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha also noted the cyclone affected the marine biodiversity, especially in the Islands of Lakshadweep, and many coral organism.
"The Ockhi cyclone resulted in agglomeration of plastic debris along the coasts of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Gujarat, particularly along the major beaches of Mumbai," he said.
According to the minister, it has been estimated that about 80 tonnes of waste from the ocean has been dumped on the city's (Mumbai's) coastline due to Ockhi cyclone. "The impact in other coastal states was relatively less compared to Maharashtra."
The clearance of the debris is being managed by the respective state governments and union territories, he added.
"Due to intense wave activity, a number of coral associated organisms such as sea cucumber, starfishes, stone fishes, puffer fishes, seaweeds, seagrass were found dead along the coast.
"Extensive damage to the mussel beds was also recorded along rocky coastal stretches of Kerala," he said.
He pointed out that the government has initiated various measures for conservation and management of marine biodiversity including demarcation of Marine Protected Areas, prevention of untreated effluent discharge and solid waste particularly plastics and others into the sea waters. -- PTI
19:43 Kamala Mills fire: Drunken stupor, selfie obsession delayed evacuation
Some patrons of '1 Above' casually took selfies of the massive flames that leapt metres into the sky, while a few others lay immobilised in drunken stupor, delaying evacuation from the pub that was devastated in the blaze that killed 14 people in Mumbai, eyewitnesses said today.
Difficulty in finding the exit door also impeded rescue efforts, forcing nervous customers to lock themselves up in toilets.
The blaze at the rooftop pub during a party spread rapidly through the building, trapping many inside. Among those killed were 11 women, including Khushbu Bansali, who was celebrating her 29th birthday, and many of her friends.
"At around ten minutes past midnight, I got out of my office after hearing commotion. A sea of people came rushing at me. They were basically running wherever the pathway led them to," Mahesh Sable, who works for a private security agency, told PTI.
Sable said his agency provides security at the offices of news channel Times Now, which has satellite-linking equipment on the terrace adjoining '1 Above' where the fire started.
He said some of them even insisted on taking refuge inside the security agency's office on the terrace. "They came up by the lift and knew nothing about the place, like the proper exit. I guided about 150-200 people as I knew the way down," he said.
Sable said some of the patrons ended up in restrooms because they did not know where the exit doors were.
He said he went up again after guiding the initial lot of over 150 people to safety, and was able to pull out 8-10 more with minor burn injuries.
"We could hear calls for help, glasses were breaking, bottles were falling down, the entire place was in flames and engulfed by smoke. I could not go in again after getting the injured people out," he said.
His colleague Sanjay Giri, who was also on the night shift, said he was on the ground floor and rushed up to guide the patrons who were stuck.
Giri said initially the drunken stupor of some of the patrons and an obsession with getting videos of the rooftop pub engulfed in fire delayed rescue efforts. -- PTI
Photograph: PTI Photo
19:27 LS passes Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill
Loan defaulters can participate in bidding under the insolvency proceedings after paying due interest and making their bad loan accounts operational, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.
The government cannot allow loan defaulters to "merrily walk back" by paying a fraction of the due amount, he said while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill, 2017, which was later passed by a voice vote.
The bill seeks to replace an ordinance which was promulgated in November to prevent unscrupulous persons from misusing or vitiating the provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
The ineligible persons or entities will include undischarged insolvent, wilful defaulter and those whose accounts have been classified as non-performing asset.
These persons, however, can become "eligible to submit a resolution plan" if they clear all the overdue amounts with interest and other charges relating to their NPA accounts.
Those defaulters who had participated in the insolvency proceedings before November 23 can also bid for stressed assets provided they clear their dues in a month.
Taking a dig at Congress member Gaurav Gogoi, the minister said that NPA was a "legacy problem" and was mainly on account of the reckless lending undertaken by the banks during the erstwhile UPA regime.
Gogoi had said that NPAs, which were low during the UPA regime, have escalated during the rule of the present government.
Responding to him, Jaitley said "but I am sorry that Gogoi has still not take cognisance of what the problem is. How did this problem of NPAs happen in such a big magnitude?
"Gogoiji has studied in good educational institutions of the world and he must have many times heard of the proverb that there were three types of lies -- lies, damned lies and statistics. Today he has himself become a victim of the third one," he said.
Citing World Bank data, Gogoi said gross NPA ratio was 2.7 per cent in 2011, 3.4 per cent in 2012 and 4 per cent in 2013. After the NDA government took over in 2014, the NPA ratio rose to 4.3 per cent, and further to 5.9 per cent in 2015 and peaked to 9.2 per cent in 2016, he added.
Jaitley responded by saying that during the Congress-led regime efforts were made to brush the NPA problem under the carpet by "window dressing" and "evergreening" of bad loans. "What was below the carpet has now come above the carpet," he stressed. -- PTI
18:51 Have fire safety regulations, licences, claims Kamala Mills pub
The Kamala Mills pub 1 Above, where 14 people were killed in a fire shortly after midnight, today said the blaze started from the adjoining property and claimed it had all the necessary approvals and safety norms in place.
It also blamed Mojo's Bistro on the floor below for not having an emergency exit, leading to overcrowding of 1 Above's escape avenues.
The pub, co-owned by brothers Hitesh and Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Manka, was gutted in the fire that broke out around 12.30 am today, killing 14 guests who had gathered to ring in Khushbu Bansali's 29th birthday. The pub is run by C Grade Hospitality.
Blaming an adjoining property for the devastating fire, the 1 Above management said, "According to our staff, a fire began to emanate from the adjacent quarters to our premises."
It did not name the property from where the fire started.
However, it named and blamed Mojo's Bistro for not having an emergency exit, which led to their guests thronging to 1 Above's emergency exit.
Mojo's Bistro was also destroyed in the blaze but no lives were lost.
"We believe that all their guests were told to go through our premises as we have an emergency exit," the 1 Above statement said.
"1 Above has all its fire safety regulations, licences, procedures and norms in place. We've been able to help save many lives thanks to our fire safety protocols," the statement claimed.
The pub claimed that it conducts quarterly fire safety and crisis management training. It has over 10 fire extinguishers and adequate fire safety signatures at its premises as is required by the authorities.
The pub management also said their property did not keep any gas cylinders near their rooftop premises and that the gas bank was maintained on the ground floor. -- PTI
18:16 Kamala Mills fire latest in Mumbai's '29' series of tragedies
India's financial capital was rocked by three tragedies this year - a deluge, a stampede and a major blaze -- all on the 29th. The series of '29' began on August 29 when torrential rain brought Mumbai to its knees, disrupting rail, road and air services, uprooting trees and leaving hundreds of Mumbaikars stranded. At least 10 people were killed in Mumbai and its neighbouring areas.
Exactly a month later, on September 29, 23 people lost their lives in a stampede on a bridge linking the Elphinstone Road and Parel stations. And today, in the dying days of the year, tragedy struck again on the 29th with a fire breaking out in a pub in a building in the Kamala Mills compound hosting a birthday party.
The midnight blaze killed 14 people, including 11 women, and injured 21. The three tragedies, on the same day of various months, were also linked by allegations that they were the result of apathy and could have been avoided. -- PTI
Image: A temporary shrine comes up with footwear lost by victims and survivors in the Elphinstone Bridge collapse of September 29.
Exactly a month later, on September 29, 23 people lost their lives in a stampede on a bridge linking the Elphinstone Road and Parel stations. And today, in the dying days of the year, tragedy struck again on the 29th with a fire breaking out in a pub in a building in the Kamala Mills compound hosting a birthday party.
The midnight blaze killed 14 people, including 11 women, and injured 21. The three tragedies, on the same day of various months, were also linked by allegations that they were the result of apathy and could have been avoided. -- PTI
Image: A temporary shrine comes up with footwear lost by victims and survivors in the Elphinstone Bridge collapse of September 29.
18:03 Kamala Mills horror: Birthday girl who died minutes after fire
The pub was '1 Above', the music was loud and the cake was chocolate. The setting was perfect as Khushbu Bhansali rang in her 29th birthday with friends and family at the rooftop restaurant at Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai.
But Khushbu, who turned 29 on the 29th, did not live to see dawn. The merriment soon turned into mayhem as a fire broke out shortly after midnight, reducing the restaurant to a heap of smouldering bamboo and wood.
Fourteen people were killed, 11 of them women, most of them asphyxiating to death, officials said. Among the dead was the birthday girl who just a short while ago was blowing out candles to the chorus of "Happy Birthday" and wishes for a long life. As is the wont in these days of social media, her friends took little time in uploading the video of a laughing Khushbu, dressed in a black top, cutting her cake.
The video, inscribed with a caption saying "Happiest birthday Khushi", shows a friend teasing Khushbu, who makes a gesture of denial before proceeding to do the honours. Among the millions of similar 'stories' on social media, the video is now on national media, underscoring the horror that followed just minutes later.
The fire that started from '1 Above' soon spread across the four-storeyed building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel area, a popular night spot as well as commercial hub housing several offices including national television channels. The cheerful music would have been abruptly silenced, the celebrations giving way to panic as the guests ran for cover. Many of them reportedly ended up in restrooms and asphyxiated to death.
A distraught Babulal Mehta, Khushbu's grandfather, blamed the "irresponsible" hotel management and the civic authorities. "The hotel had put up a temporary structure supported by bamboo with the possibility of catching fire. There was no fire extinguishing facility either. It is the responsibility of the police and civic authorities to act against any violations," he told the media.
A popular restaurant listing app now says 1 Above and Mojo's Bristo, where the fire spread to, are "temporarily unavailable" for serving patrons. -- PTI
Image: Khushbu Bhansali, who calls herself Khushi, in a 2011 photograph on Facebook.
But Khushbu, who turned 29 on the 29th, did not live to see dawn. The merriment soon turned into mayhem as a fire broke out shortly after midnight, reducing the restaurant to a heap of smouldering bamboo and wood.
Fourteen people were killed, 11 of them women, most of them asphyxiating to death, officials said. Among the dead was the birthday girl who just a short while ago was blowing out candles to the chorus of "Happy Birthday" and wishes for a long life. As is the wont in these days of social media, her friends took little time in uploading the video of a laughing Khushbu, dressed in a black top, cutting her cake.
The video, inscribed with a caption saying "Happiest birthday Khushi", shows a friend teasing Khushbu, who makes a gesture of denial before proceeding to do the honours. Among the millions of similar 'stories' on social media, the video is now on national media, underscoring the horror that followed just minutes later.
The fire that started from '1 Above' soon spread across the four-storeyed building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel area, a popular night spot as well as commercial hub housing several offices including national television channels. The cheerful music would have been abruptly silenced, the celebrations giving way to panic as the guests ran for cover. Many of them reportedly ended up in restrooms and asphyxiated to death.
A distraught Babulal Mehta, Khushbu's grandfather, blamed the "irresponsible" hotel management and the civic authorities. "The hotel had put up a temporary structure supported by bamboo with the possibility of catching fire. There was no fire extinguishing facility either. It is the responsibility of the police and civic authorities to act against any violations," he told the media.
A popular restaurant listing app now says 1 Above and Mojo's Bristo, where the fire spread to, are "temporarily unavailable" for serving patrons. -- PTI
Image: Khushbu Bhansali, who calls herself Khushi, in a 2011 photograph on Facebook.
17:39 Hema Malini blames migrants for Kamala Mills tragedy
BJP MP Hema Malini today blamed Mumbai's "high population" for the deadly fire at a restaurant in Mumbai's Kamala Mills premises.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament today, she said, "It's not that the police aren't doing their job. They do a great job. But the population is so high."
Suggesting measures to contain Mumbai's growing influx of people she added, "When Bombay ends, another city should begin. But the city keeps extending. Each city should have certain population/limit, after that they should not be allowed. Then let them go to another city," she said parroting the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's stand on containing the city's population by restricting migrants.
Opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party today slammed the Mumbai civic administration and the state government for the Kamala Mills fire that killed 14 people and injured several others. They demanded a high-level probe into the tragedy and said strict action should be taken against erring officials. Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged corrupt practices and functioning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament today, she said, "It's not that the police aren't doing their job. They do a great job. But the population is so high."
Suggesting measures to contain Mumbai's growing influx of people she added, "When Bombay ends, another city should begin. But the city keeps extending. Each city should have certain population/limit, after that they should not be allowed. Then let them go to another city," she said parroting the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's stand on containing the city's population by restricting migrants.
Opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party today slammed the Mumbai civic administration and the state government for the Kamala Mills fire that killed 14 people and injured several others. They demanded a high-level probe into the tragedy and said strict action should be taken against erring officials. Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the alleged corrupt practices and functioning of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
17:01 Exit was narrow, difficult to escape: Kamala Mills survivor
Siddharth Shroff, a survivor in the Kamala Mills fire said, "Around 150 people were in the '1 Above' restaurant when the fire broke out at 12:30 pm. "We rushed to the exit gate, but it was narrow. It was difficult to escape. Somebody dropped us at hospital. I received 20% burns."
A fire that started at a rooftop pub hosting a birthday party spread rapidly through the building, killing 14 people, most of them women, shortly after midnight in a posh Mumbai locality, officials said today.
The fire, which also injured 21 people, started after 12.30 am in the "1 Above" pub on the terrace, and spread to Mojo pub on the third floor one level below. Most of the victims, who included 11 women, died of asphyxiation.
Twelve people were injured in the fire, two critically.
A fire that started at a rooftop pub hosting a birthday party spread rapidly through the building, killing 14 people, most of them women, shortly after midnight in a posh Mumbai locality, officials said today.
The fire, which also injured 21 people, started after 12.30 am in the "1 Above" pub on the terrace, and spread to Mojo pub on the third floor one level below. Most of the victims, who included 11 women, died of asphyxiation.
Twelve people were injured in the fire, two critically.
16:37 Mirror Now's Mumbai begins telecast from Noida
And we are back! @MirrorNow telecast has been restored from make shift studios in Noida, Mirror Now editor, Faye D'Souza tweets.
The @MirrorNow studios in Kamala mills are not operational today. The team has been flown to Noida to start telecast from makeshift studios there.
The @MirrorNow studios in Kamala mills are not operational today. The team has been flown to Noida to start telecast from makeshift studios there.
16:20 Ola, Uber drivers being coached on how to behave with passengers
For the next few days, drivers at cab-aggregator Ola, in the Delhi-NCR region, would periodically get a recorded message from the Gurgaon Police 'advising' them on how to behave with riders. The same kind of messages would be relayed to drivers in other states as well, reports Karan Choudhury in Business Standard.
"A recorded message from a senior police official would be sent to the drivers on how they need to behave with riders. Also they are sensitised on how they need to deal with situations where the rider might be causing the problem,' a source said.
Uber is also organising classes for its drivers that includes showing short video messages teaching them on how to deal with drunk passengers, as well as women travelling alone.
"Safety is a two-way street, especially when two people are sharing a ride. And, while no means of transportation is 100 per cent free of accidents and incidents, we're encouraging our driver partners to help keep the roads safe for everyone," an Uber spokesperson said.
15:55 Guilty will be punished, promises Maha CM on Kamala Mills fire
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis visits the site of the Kamala Mills fire in Mumbai and orders a high-level probe. He said action has been against five BMC officials. "BMC officials and hotel owners are responsible for the horrifying incident. Action will be taken if negligence is proven. The guilty will not be spared. Wherever illegal structures are found, they will be demolished immediately," the CM said.
Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray has also reached the Kamala Mills compound.
Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray has also reached the Kamala Mills compound.
15:38 BMC's first fall guys: 5 civic staff suspended over Kamala Mills fire
BMC finds its first fall guys. Commissioner Ajoy Mehta suspends five BMC officials for negligence in connection with the fire at Kamala Mills.
The fire that started at a rooftop pub hosting a birthday party spread rapidly through the building, killing 14 people, most of them women, shortly after midnight in a posh Mumbai locality, officials said today.
The fire, which also injured 21 people, started after 12.30 am in the "1 Above" pub on the terrace, and spread to Mojo pub on the third floor one level below, said an official of the Mumbai civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
The two gutted pubs are located in the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel area, a popular night spot as well as commercial hub housing several offices including national television channels. -- PTI
The fire that started at a rooftop pub hosting a birthday party spread rapidly through the building, killing 14 people, most of them women, shortly after midnight in a posh Mumbai locality, officials said today.
The fire, which also injured 21 people, started after 12.30 am in the "1 Above" pub on the terrace, and spread to Mojo pub on the third floor one level below, said an official of the Mumbai civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.
The two gutted pubs are located in the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel area, a popular night spot as well as commercial hub housing several offices including national television channels. -- PTI
15:26 I have failed to stop fire incidents: Uphaar fire victim's mother
Neelam Krishnamoorthy, President, Association of victims of Uphaar tragedy on the Kamala Mills fire: Human life is very cheap in India. There is corruption at every level and its the ordinary people who have to pay. Each time I see a fire taking place and people dying, it angers me a lot and I feel I have miserably failed in my endeavor to stop such fire incidents. I would blame the judiciary and the government for this.
On June 13, 1997, 59 people died due to suffocation after a fire broke out at the Uphaar cinema hall in Green Park in New Delhi. The fire had erupted during a screening of the film Border. More than a hundred people were seriously injured in the incident. Neelam lost her two teenage children in the fire.
On June 13, 1997, 59 people died due to suffocation after a fire broke out at the Uphaar cinema hall in Green Park in New Delhi. The fire had erupted during a screening of the film Border. More than a hundred people were seriously injured in the incident. Neelam lost her two teenage children in the fire.
15:06 'Work from home' for staff at TV station offices at Kamala Mills
Mail from Times to its employees. The Mumbai office employees of Mirror Now, ET Now, Romedy Now, Movies Now and other channels are working from home due to the fire at Kamala Mills. All the offices are located at the mills. This is what the mail says:
Dear All
Kindly work from Home for today , 29th dec . Office is inaccessible as of now. We will send a update soon.
Dear All
Kindly work from Home for today , 29th dec . Office is inaccessible as of now. We will send a update soon.
14:56 TV9 staff working night shift had just 5 minutes to escape
About 15 employees of the TV9 Marathi channel working the night shift had a providential escape when a fire broke out shortly after midnight in a pub above their ground floor office.
The midnight blaze started in the '1 Above' pub on the terrace of the Trade House Building in the Kamala Mills compound, killing 14 people, including 11 women, officials said today. The fire, which also injured 21 people, soon spread to the Mojo pub on the third floor one level below. The roof collapsed and the entrance to the TV9 Marathi office was blocked, said Sanjay Jadhav, a programme producer with the news channel.
Recalling the horror, Jadhav said, "I was in the night shift. We heard people screaming at the cafe. We thought it's due to the party which was on at the cafe and the music." When he came out of the office, he saw that a fire had broken out at the roof-top cafe.
"The main entrance of our office was blocked due to the fire. I raised an alarm and about 10 to 12 people came out through the fire exit," said Jadhav. Jadhav said he and his colleagues saw the temporary roof made of bamboo burning and falling down to the ground floor.
"Had we been late by five-10 minutes, we would have been trapped inside. It was a narrow escape for us," Jadhav added. A fire official said people rushed to the washroom of the restaurant to escape as they did not find any proper fire exit and were asphyxiated to death. -- PTI
The midnight blaze started in the '1 Above' pub on the terrace of the Trade House Building in the Kamala Mills compound, killing 14 people, including 11 women, officials said today. The fire, which also injured 21 people, soon spread to the Mojo pub on the third floor one level below. The roof collapsed and the entrance to the TV9 Marathi office was blocked, said Sanjay Jadhav, a programme producer with the news channel.
Recalling the horror, Jadhav said, "I was in the night shift. We heard people screaming at the cafe. We thought it's due to the party which was on at the cafe and the music." When he came out of the office, he saw that a fire had broken out at the roof-top cafe.
"The main entrance of our office was blocked due to the fire. I raised an alarm and about 10 to 12 people came out through the fire exit," said Jadhav. Jadhav said he and his colleagues saw the temporary roof made of bamboo burning and falling down to the ground floor.
"Had we been late by five-10 minutes, we would have been trapped inside. It was a narrow escape for us," Jadhav added. A fire official said people rushed to the washroom of the restaurant to escape as they did not find any proper fire exit and were asphyxiated to death. -- PTI
14:32 Two Kamala Mills victims not from Mumbai
Barring two, all the bodies of the Kamala Mills fire victims have been claimed from KEM hospital. Two victims, identified as Shefali and Promila, were from outside Mumbai and there are formalities involved for their relatives claiming their bodies, reports Vaihayasi Pande Daniel.
The death toll stands at 14.
The death toll stands at 14.
14:29 Dinakaran takes oath
TTV Dinakaran takes oath as MLA from the RK Nagar constituency of Chennai. The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu on
Sunday suffered a major setback with rival faction candidate TTV
Dinakaran winning the prestigious RK Nagar assembly bypoll, bettering J
Jayalalithaas margin, while the Bharatiya Janata Party wrested two
seats from the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh and retained one in Uttar
Pradesh.
14:10 Eyewitness says fire first broke out at Mojo cafe
An eyewitness on Friday said loss of lives in the Kamala Mills fire could have been averted.
A huge fire broke out at Kamla Mills compound in Lower Parel locality of Mumbai in the early hours of Friday in which 14 people were killed.
Sharad Jadhav, who works with TV9 Marathi channel that has office in Kamla Mills Compound, was one of the persons who witnessed the havoc created by fire.
"After talking to the injured, we came to know that first fire broke out at Mojo Cafe, which wasn't a major one. Had it been controlled within time then there wouldn't have been loss of life and property. Since it wasn't controlled, fire engulfed the nearby hotel. Today, 14 youngsters have lost life, who were country's future," Jadhav told ANI.
He questioned whether the cafe and the hotel had proper fire fighting equipment or not. "The authorities should ascertain if cafe and hotel had fire fighting equipment then why didn't they extinguish fire? If they didn't have requisite fire extinguishers then also they must be punished," Jadhav said.
He recounted how at 12:30 am on Friday they came to know about a fire in the compound. "I was in night shift. We received information about a fire at 12:30 am, but the fire had broken out between 12:10 and 12:15 am. When me and my friend went to the spot we saw that the fire was massive. We ran back to our office and evacuated everyone. By the time we reached safety, the roof of our office building collapsed," Jadhav said. As per reports, the building is located near various media houses, like Mirror Now, ET Now and Times Now.
A huge fire broke out at Kamla Mills compound in Lower Parel locality of Mumbai in the early hours of Friday in which 14 people were killed.
Sharad Jadhav, who works with TV9 Marathi channel that has office in Kamla Mills Compound, was one of the persons who witnessed the havoc created by fire.
"After talking to the injured, we came to know that first fire broke out at Mojo Cafe, which wasn't a major one. Had it been controlled within time then there wouldn't have been loss of life and property. Since it wasn't controlled, fire engulfed the nearby hotel. Today, 14 youngsters have lost life, who were country's future," Jadhav told ANI.
He questioned whether the cafe and the hotel had proper fire fighting equipment or not. "The authorities should ascertain if cafe and hotel had fire fighting equipment then why didn't they extinguish fire? If they didn't have requisite fire extinguishers then also they must be punished," Jadhav said.
He recounted how at 12:30 am on Friday they came to know about a fire in the compound. "I was in night shift. We received information about a fire at 12:30 am, but the fire had broken out between 12:10 and 12:15 am. When me and my friend went to the spot we saw that the fire was massive. We ran back to our office and evacuated everyone. By the time we reached safety, the roof of our office building collapsed," Jadhav said. As per reports, the building is located near various media houses, like Mirror Now, ET Now and Times Now.
13:15 There has been negligence: Jaya
Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan: I have been to Kamala Mills; it is like a bhool bhulaiaya, has narrow lanes. So obviously there has been negligence.
13:12 Kamala Mills fire: MoS Home says strict action will be taken against guilty
After speaking to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over Kamala Mills fire that claimed 14 lives, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said strict action would be taken against the guilty.
"It is a very unfortunate incident, the state government and BMC will surely inquire into the incident and strict action will be taken against guilty," Ahir told ANI.
KEM Hospital Dean Dr Avinash Supe said the hospital has received 12 injured and 14 dead bodies from Kamala Mills compound, where fire broke out in the wee hours and the casualties took place due to suffocation.
"It is a very unfortunate incident, the state government and BMC will surely inquire into the incident and strict action will be taken against guilty," Ahir told ANI.
KEM Hospital Dean Dr Avinash Supe said the hospital has received 12 injured and 14 dead bodies from Kamala Mills compound, where fire broke out in the wee hours and the casualties took place due to suffocation.
12:51 'Unfortunate': Sena reacts to Kamala Mills fire
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday described the massive fire at the Kamala Mills in Mumbai that claimed 14 lives as an 'unfortunate incident'.
Raut told ANI, "The entire mishap is unfortunate which cannot be described with words. We can only express our sympathies with the victims and their families."
He further confirmed that an investigation will definitely take place."An investigation will surely take place on the incident and the reason behind, it will be found. Our whole team, including the BMC, Shiv Sena and the police are present at the site and helping the victims," said Raut.
Raut also paid his condolences to the families of people affected by the fire on behalf of his party.
"The most important thing is to be with families of those who have lost their lives and provide immediate medical attention to the injured. I, on the behalf of my party, extend my sympathies to the victims and their families," added Raut.
A massive fire engulfed Mumbai's Kamala Mills Compound in the Lower Parel area, claiming 14 lives. Confirming the number of dead and injured, the BMC also informed that among the injured, two are critical. -- ANI
Raut told ANI, "The entire mishap is unfortunate which cannot be described with words. We can only express our sympathies with the victims and their families."
He further confirmed that an investigation will definitely take place."An investigation will surely take place on the incident and the reason behind, it will be found. Our whole team, including the BMC, Shiv Sena and the police are present at the site and helping the victims," said Raut.
Raut also paid his condolences to the families of people affected by the fire on behalf of his party.
"The most important thing is to be with families of those who have lost their lives and provide immediate medical attention to the injured. I, on the behalf of my party, extend my sympathies to the victims and their families," added Raut.
A massive fire engulfed Mumbai's Kamala Mills Compound in the Lower Parel area, claiming 14 lives. Confirming the number of dead and injured, the BMC also informed that among the injured, two are critical. -- ANI
12:36 Proper evacuation plan could have avoided deaths: KEM doc
Further corroboration that casualties could have been avoided. Dr Harish Pathak, Forensics department head at KEM Hospital said, "Almost all the victims died to asphyxiation, none of them have died due to the flames but due to fumes. A proper evacuation plan could have avoided this."
All the bodies of the victims of the Kamala Mills fire, 11 women and three men, had been brought to the civic-run KEM Hospital in Parel, a couple of kilometres from Kamala Mills.
Earlier in the day, KEM Hospital Dean Dr Avinash Supe said that the hospital had also received 12 injured from the Kamala Mills Compound.
Addressing the media, Dr Supe said as per post-mortem reports, the deaths took place due to suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning. "At about 1 to 1:15 a.m., we started receiving patients from Kamala Mills. Twelve patients came who were suffering from superficial burns. All the patients have been treated and have been released. With those 12 patients, 14 dead bodies were also brought to the hospital.. The main reason for deaths was suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning," he said.
Image: A fireman assists in rescue operations at the Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel. At least 14 people were killed and two critically injured. Photograph: PTI Photo
All the bodies of the victims of the Kamala Mills fire, 11 women and three men, had been brought to the civic-run KEM Hospital in Parel, a couple of kilometres from Kamala Mills.
Earlier in the day, KEM Hospital Dean Dr Avinash Supe said that the hospital had also received 12 injured from the Kamala Mills Compound.
Addressing the media, Dr Supe said as per post-mortem reports, the deaths took place due to suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning. "At about 1 to 1:15 a.m., we started receiving patients from Kamala Mills. Twelve patients came who were suffering from superficial burns. All the patients have been treated and have been released. With those 12 patients, 14 dead bodies were also brought to the hospital.. The main reason for deaths was suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning," he said.
Image: A fireman assists in rescue operations at the Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel. At least 14 people were killed and two critically injured. Photograph: PTI Photo
12:12 BMC approved rooftop restaurants just a month ago
The policy has been passed with a clause that no terrace restaurant will be allowed within 10 metres of a residential building. Read more
12:08
How the BMC simplified the process of getting licences to restaurants. Read the rules here.
12:06 Calamity waiting to happen, says man who stays near Kamala Mills
Financial consultant Sandip Sabharwal who lives a few metres from Kamala Mills says this was a calamity waiting to happen. "Most buildings in the compound are decades old and have been refurbished to house more restaurants and pubs The staircases are narrow and the kitchens have no fire-fighting equipment. Most pubs flout safety norms and play music till 2 am. I have often called up the NM Joshi Marg police station and dialed 100 to draw their attention to the issue. The authorities come and stop the music, but nothing is done to check for noise pollution on a permanent basis. Every day, a new pub comes up. Who gives them the permission and license to operate? If we don't take strict action now, we can expect more calamities in the future. Besides authorities, I feel, even people should be wary of promoting such unsafe places."
-- Divya Nair/Rediff.com.
-- Divya Nair/Rediff.com.
11:59 Bodies were brought to KEM hospital. This is what the dean said
King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital Dean Dr Avinash Supe said on Friday that the civic hospital has received 12 injured and 14 dead bodies from the Kamala Mills Compound, where the fire broke out in the early hours today.
Addressing the media, Dr Supe said as per postmortem reports, the deaths took place due to suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning.
"At about 1 to 1:15 am, we started receiving patient from Kamala Mills. Twelve patients came who were suffering from superficial burns. All the patients have been treated and have been released. With those 12 patients, 14 dead bodies were also brought to the hospital. The main reason for deaths was suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning," he said. All the dead bodies have been identified.
The massive fire in the compound in the Lower Parel area broke out at 12:30 am. Meanwhile, transmission of the TV channels ET Now, Mirror Now, Zoom and TV9 Marathi located in the compound have also been affected due to the fire. -- ANI
Addressing the media, Dr Supe said as per postmortem reports, the deaths took place due to suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning.
"At about 1 to 1:15 am, we started receiving patient from Kamala Mills. Twelve patients came who were suffering from superficial burns. All the patients have been treated and have been released. With those 12 patients, 14 dead bodies were also brought to the hospital. The main reason for deaths was suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning," he said. All the dead bodies have been identified.
The massive fire in the compound in the Lower Parel area broke out at 12:30 am. Meanwhile, transmission of the TV channels ET Now, Mirror Now, Zoom and TV9 Marathi located in the compound have also been affected due to the fire. -- ANI
11:53 The 14 who died in Kamala Mills fire
The names of the 14 killed in the '1 Above' fire. The list was released by the forensics department at KEM Hospital.
A birthday bash at a pub in a central Mumbai building ended in a tragedy as 14 people, including 11 women, were killed after a blaze broke out shortly after midnight, an official said today. Most of the victims died of suffocation.
Twenty-one people were injured in the fire, which broke out at the restaurant's terrace on the third floor of the commercial complex at Lower Parel area, the official said.
"The incident occurred after 12.30 am at '1 Above' pub, located on the third floor of the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound on Senapati Bapat Marg, a commercial hub of the city," a police official said.
Teams of fire brigade and police rushed to the spot and a rescue operation was launched to pull out the people trapped inside the pub, the official added.
"The fire brigade rescued at least 35 injured persons, who were trapped inside the hotel. They were shifted to a hospital," he said.
"During treatment, 14 people, including 11 women, were declared dead. Most of the victims died of suffocation," he said adding that 21 others sustained serious burn injuries.
Police have booked Hratesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Manka of C Grade Hospitality, which manages the pub, along with others, under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others). They have been booked by N M Joshi Marg Police Station and two of them have been detained, the official said.
A birthday bash at a pub in a central Mumbai building ended in a tragedy as 14 people, including 11 women, were killed after a blaze broke out shortly after midnight, an official said today. Most of the victims died of suffocation.
Twenty-one people were injured in the fire, which broke out at the restaurant's terrace on the third floor of the commercial complex at Lower Parel area, the official said.
"The incident occurred after 12.30 am at '1 Above' pub, located on the third floor of the Trade House Building in Kamala Mills compound on Senapati Bapat Marg, a commercial hub of the city," a police official said.
Teams of fire brigade and police rushed to the spot and a rescue operation was launched to pull out the people trapped inside the pub, the official added.
"The fire brigade rescued at least 35 injured persons, who were trapped inside the hotel. They were shifted to a hospital," he said.
"During treatment, 14 people, including 11 women, were declared dead. Most of the victims died of suffocation," he said adding that 21 others sustained serious burn injuries.
Police have booked Hratesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Manka of C Grade Hospitality, which manages the pub, along with others, under IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others). They have been booked by N M Joshi Marg Police Station and two of them have been detained, the official said.
11:24 Before
To give you the scale of devastation at the rooftop '1Above' restaurant, this is what it looked like.
11:08 Fire spread in seconds, pub staff helped people escape: Survivor
Kamala Mills fire: A doctor who was at the restaurant last night tells India Today that she and her friend who were dining at '1 Above' were in the process of paying the bill when they noticed a small fire at one end of the restaurant and within seconds it had become an inferno. Everyone rushed towards the exit and in the stampede she fell. She said her friend had gone ahead but realising she was not with him went back to get her. By then there were too many people trying to escape from the single exit of the restaurant. So she and her friend headed to the kitchen which had a service exit.
She says the staff were extremely helpful and many wouldn't have made it without them. The BMC in a press release also said that fourteen people have suffered injuries, out of which two are in a critical condition.
An eyewitness says the fire brigade arrived in 10 minutes.
Eleven of the deceased have been identified; however, the identity of three still remains unknown.
An FIR has been filed against the three pub owners.
Image: Family members with the body of a victim in the Mumbai fire. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters.
She says the staff were extremely helpful and many wouldn't have made it without them. The BMC in a press release also said that fourteen people have suffered injuries, out of which two are in a critical condition.
An eyewitness says the fire brigade arrived in 10 minutes.
Eleven of the deceased have been identified; however, the identity of three still remains unknown.
An FIR has been filed against the three pub owners.
Image: Family members with the body of a victim in the Mumbai fire. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters.
10:48 12 of 14 injured 'out of danger': KEM Dean
BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta had visited Kamala Mills at midnight and has taken stock of the situation. Asked him to take strong action against erring officials immediately, tweets Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Of the 14 injured in the fire, 12 are out of danger now, the Dean of KEM Hospital, Avinash Supe, said. Most of the victims were brought in to the civic hospital, which is the nearest to Kamala Mills.
Of the 14 injured in the fire, 12 are out of danger now, the Dean of KEM Hospital, Avinash Supe, said. Most of the victims were brought in to the civic hospital, which is the nearest to Kamala Mills.
10:40 Victims took shelter in loo to escape fire, asphyxiated to death
Reports say that the fire started at the '1-Above' restaurant from the rooftop, after its shed (made of bamboo and plastic) started to burn. Most of the guests tried to take shelter in the bathroom and got trapped there. They didn't find their way out and asphyxiated to death in the bathroom. Survivors say most victims could not find the exit and in the ensuing stampede and confusion could not get out of the restaurant.
To bring you up to speed, 14 people were killed and 19 others injured after a major fire broke out in a building in Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel in Mumbai. The fire broke out shortly after midnight on the third floor of the four-storeyed building on Senapati Bapat Marg, a commercial hub of the city, a civic official told PTI.
"The cooling operations are underway. Some of the injured people are in critical condition," the official said. The injured are undergoing treatment at the civic-run KEM and Sion hospitals, the official from the BMC disaster management unit said. Several fire tenders, water tankers, emergency ambulance and police personnel rushed to the spot for rescue operation, he said.
To bring you up to speed, 14 people were killed and 19 others injured after a major fire broke out in a building in Kamala Mills Compound in Lower Parel in Mumbai. The fire broke out shortly after midnight on the third floor of the four-storeyed building on Senapati Bapat Marg, a commercial hub of the city, a civic official told PTI.
"The cooling operations are underway. Some of the injured people are in critical condition," the official said. The injured are undergoing treatment at the civic-run KEM and Sion hospitals, the official from the BMC disaster management unit said. Several fire tenders, water tankers, emergency ambulance and police personnel rushed to the spot for rescue operation, he said.
10:28
Pallavi @bombaywaali on the Kamala Mills restaurant fire: Ways to die in Bombay- stampede, open manholes, fire, tree falling on you.. oh the floods! Spirit of Bombay to die whenever, wherever! So not worth it. Will the authorities ever pay attention to Bombay's infracture? #KamalaMills #bombaylives
10:20 Mumbai Kamala Mills fire: Suffocation caused deaths
Post mortem reports of those who died in the Kamala mill blaze in Mumbai has revealed that suffocation was the cause behind all deaths.
Dr Rajesh Dere of King Edward Memorial hospital who performed the post-mortem confirmed the cause of deaths.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in a press release also said that fourteen people have suffered injuries, out of which two are in a critical condition.
Eleven of the deceased have been identified; however, identity of three still remains unknown.
Meanwhile, transmission of the TV channels ET Now, Mirror Now, Zoom and TV9 Marathi located near the accident spot have also been affected due to the fire.
A huge fire broke out at Kamala Mills compound of Mumbai in the wee hours of Friday.
09:58
Prime Minister Narendtra Modi tweeted, "Anguished by the fire in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray that those injured recover quickly: PM @narendramodi"
09:34 Remnants of a deadly blaze
Top angle view of the KamalaMills compound in Lower Parel, where a fire broke out last night & claimed 14 lives
09:20 Ceiling above me was collapsing in flames: Survivor speaks of Mumbai fire
A woman who managed to get out unharmed in the Mumbai blaze has recounted the horror of the fire on Twitter.
Identified as Dr Sulbha KG Arora, she wrote on Twitter, "The Kamala Mills fire started at 1 Above. I was there and barely made it out alive. Some were not so lucky. Praying for the injured and the deceased. It was the scariest thing I have ever survived!
There was a stampede and someone pushed me. People were running over me even as the ceiling above me was collapsing in flames. Still don't know how I got out alive. Some powers were definitely protecting me."
On Friday early morning, a blaze broke out at a restaurant in central Mumbai's Kamala Mills, resulting in 15 people dying and another 19 being injured.
Fire fighters and tenders rushed to the spot to help douse the flames that quickly spread across the complex, which houses restaurants, pubs, and even offices.
09:01 12 dead in New York apartment block blaze
At least 12 people have been killed in a fire at an apartment building in the Bronx borough of New York.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said four other people were critically injured. The fire is now under control, he added.
The building is located near Fordham University and the Bronx Zoo. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
There were more than 160 fire-fighters on scene, according to a tweet by the city's fire department.
According to the Associated Press, city records showed that the five-storey building had no lift.
However, fire escapes were visible on the building's exterior.
08:42 Mumbai blaze: Woman celebrating birthday was among those who died
A 28-year-old woman celebrating her birthday was among those who died, her grandfather has said.
Kamala Mills, a refurbished industrial compound, houses swanky restaurants and other commercial establishments.
The fire in the building started on the top floor and engulfed the structure in less than 30 minutes, local media reported.
Several media outlets also use the compound for their offices and at least three national news channels were affected by the fire, including Times Now and ET Now.
The fire department received a call about the blaze in a commercial building in the Kamala Mills compound in Central Mumbai around 0030 on Friday, an official said.
08:28
The list of the 14 people who are confirmed dead.
08:21 President Kovind condoles deaths in Mumbai fire
President Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter to express his sorrow after 15 people were killed in a blaze that broke out at a roof-top pub in Mumbai.
The President wrote, "Disturbing news about the fire in Mumbai. Condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured an early recovery. Commend the valiant efforts of fire-fighters and those in rescue ops."
Fire fighters took three hours to douse the flames that leapt up in central Mumbai's nightlife hub.
08:17 15 killed in fire at Mumbai roof-top pub
Fifteen people including 12 women, most of them in their twenties and early thirties, were killed in a massive fire that started from a restaurant in Mumbai's Kamala Mills compound late on Wednesday evening, and spread rapidly to nearly restaurants and offices as well.
It is being reported that the fire broke out at 1 Above and then quickly spread to other parts of the complex.
Fire-fighters took more than three hours to douse the huge flames that leapt up in central Mumbai's nightlife hub.
A police complaint has been registered against the restaurant '1 Above' where the fire broke out.
04:18 14 killed in Mumbai fire
14 people have died in a fire that broke out in a pub in the Kamala Mills compound in central Mumbai at about 12.30 am.
Most of the dead are reported to be young women.
PTI reports that the fire broke out shortly after midnight on the third floor of the four-storeyed building.
00:35 Trump criticises China for allowing oil to North Korea
United States President Donald Trump on Thursday criticised China for allowing oil to go into North Korea.
'Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!' Trump tweeted.
Trump's tweet came after reports emerged that the US satellites had captured images of Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean ships on the West Sea at least 30 times in the past three months.
The UN Security Council had recently imposed new sanctions on North Korea, seeking to limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil after the latest intercontinental ballistic missile test by Pyongyang.
However, China had reportedly denied violating the sanctions and said it hadn't sold any oil to North Korea. -- ANI
'Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!' Trump tweeted.
Trump's tweet came after reports emerged that the US satellites had captured images of Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean ships on the West Sea at least 30 times in the past three months.
The UN Security Council had recently imposed new sanctions on North Korea, seeking to limit its access to refined petroleum products and crude oil after the latest intercontinental ballistic missile test by Pyongyang.
However, China had reportedly denied violating the sanctions and said it hadn't sold any oil to North Korea. -- ANI
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