MUMBAI: In an unfortunate incident, at least eight people were killed, while 40 others were injured after a massive fire broke out at a building in Mumbai's Goregaon on Friday. The incident happened at nearly 3 a.m., also destroying 35 two-wheelers and nearly 5 cars.

Reports have said the fire broke out in the parking area of a seven-storey building. Firefighting operations began as soon as officials reached the spot and those injured were shifted to a hospital for treatment the blaze was later brought under control and cooling efforts were underway.

According to Chief Fire Officer Ravindra Ambulgekar, the fire was reported at the Jay Bhavani building located on Goregaon's MG road. Ambulgekar said that the building was constructed in 2006 under the Slum Rehabilitation scheme and had no firefighting system. He also said that the lift was old and a significant amount of smoke travelled through the lift duct.

People from the building and locality said that cloth lying in the parking area had caught fire after which the blaze spread to the entire area, however, investigations were still underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.

Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed grief over the loss of lives due to the fire incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of those who died. The Prime Minister also said the injured would be given Rs 50,000.

President Droupadi Murmu also expressed grief over the loss of life. She Tweeted on X, “The news of the death of several people, including children and women, in an unfortunate incident of fire in a building in Goregaon area of ​​Mumbai is extremely saddening. I express my condolences to all the bereaved families and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.”

Taking stock of the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the kin of those who died in the fire incident. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed grief and said he was in touch with the BMC and the Mumbai Police and that all assistance was being provided to those affected in the unfortunate incident.