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