‘Raze illegal structures, prevent fires'

Time of India

2 days ago

Mumbai: Several fire incidents over the past decade have exposed a recurring pattern—many of the affected structures were unauthorised or had illegal alterations. Citizens and activists argue that the BMC must proactively act against such violations to prevent tragedies.
The Oct 2015 blaze at Hotel City Kinara in Kurla revealed glaring fire safety lapses: Gas pipes crisscrossed the eatery, cylinders were stored on a mezzanine balcony, staircases were dangerously narrow, and the mezzanine itself was illegal. Similarly, the Dec 2017 fire at Kamala Mills that claimed 14 lives at the 1 Above restaurant spread rapidly due to a highly combustible, unauthorised thatched roof—an addition for which no permissions was granted.
The BMC had suspended 5 officials after the blaze.
Niranjan Shetty, chairman of Ahar (Association of Hotels and Restaurants), said, "Authorised eateries largely comply with fire safety norms, as they know non-compliance invites strict action. But there's a clear trend—most fire incidents involve unauthorised structures or illegal extensions. That's where enforcement needs to tighten."
The inquiry into the recent fire at a Bandra mall pointed out that the firefighting system was manual, not automatic, highlighting gaps in safety infrastructure in commercial spaces.
Nicholas Almeida of Watchdog Foundation said after the Kinara fire, the BMC cracked down on illegal eateries and roadside cooking. "But a decade later, open cooking continues. Ward level officials can act against this."tnn