Mumbai: A major fire broke out at a labour camp at an under-construction Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Project Affected Persons (PAP) project in Mulund East on Thursday, triggering explosions of seven gas cylinders, officials said.
The fire broke out at a ground-plus-one-storey shed being used to accommodate construction workers at the project site. All occupants were evacuated safely and no injuries or casualties had been reported in the initial reports.
The blaze sent thick smoke into the surrounding area and prompted a response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police and other emergency personnel. Videos from the site showed flames spreading through the workers’ accommodation.
Fire breaks out at Mulund East labour camp
The incident was reported on Thursday afternoon at the BMC’s PAP project in the Navghar-Tata Colony area of Mulund East.
The labour camp was a ground-plus-one-storey structure used to accommodate construction workers engaged at the project site. The fire was reported from the workers’ shed, rather than from one of the completed residential buildings.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade received information about the incident at around 1.54 pm and personnel were sent to the location to begin firefighting and relief operations. The blaze was classified as a Level-I fire in the initial response.
The incident occurred at a site where construction work is under way as part of the BMC’s rehabilitation programme for Project Affected Persons.
Seven gas cylinders explode
According to police officials, the fire led to the explosion of seven gas cylinders at the labour camp.
Initial information indicated that the blaze may have started as a small fire before spreading through the premises and reaching the cylinders. However, officials were still determining the exact circumstances that led to the fire and subsequent explosions.
Reports from the scene described a series of loud blasts as the cylinders exploded.
The explosions intensified the fire and caused flames to spread through the workers’ accommodation. Firefighters were deployed to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.
At this stage, there was no official indication that the explosions were caused by a deliberate act.
Workers evacuated safely
Despite the intensity of the fire and the cylinder explosions, all occupants of the labour camp were reportedly evacuated safely.
Police officials said there were no casualties or fatalities reported in the initial assessment.
The safe evacuation of the workers helped prevent the incident from resulting in loss of life.
Emergency personnel, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade and police, were present at the site as firefighting and safety operations continued.
Other civic agencies were also mobilised in response to the incident. Reports said personnel from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, BMC ward staff and a 108 ambulance were among those deployed following the fire.
Videos show flames and thick smoke
Videos and photographs from the area showed large flames rising from the labour camp, accompanied by thick clouds of smoke.
The fire was visible from parts of the surrounding Mulund East area, with reports of residents hearing explosions as the cylinders went off.
Images from the site showed the workers’ accommodation engulfed in flames as emergency personnel worked to contain the blaze.
The incident also drew attention because the labour camp was located within an active construction zone, where workers were being housed while the larger PAP project was being developed.
Fire brigade and police respond
The Mumbai Fire Brigade rushed personnel and firefighting equipment to the site after receiving information about the blaze.
Police personnel also reached the location and assisted with the evacuation and emergency response.
The presence of gas cylinders at the labour camp added to the risks faced by firefighters because further explosions could potentially have endangered workers, emergency responders and nearby structures.
Firefighting operations were therefore focused on containing the flames and securing the affected area.
Officials continued to assess the situation and establish the extent of damage to the workers’ accommodation.
Cause of fire remains under investigation
The exact cause of the fire had not been established in the initial reports.
Officials were examining the circumstances surrounding the outbreak and the subsequent cylinder explosions. Reports indicated that the blaze may have begun on a small scale before spreading, but this remained part of the preliminary assessment.
Further investigation will be required to determine whether the fire originated from a cooking area, an electrical source or another cause.
The condition and storage of the gas cylinders at the site may also be examined as part of the inquiry.
Until the investigation is completed, no definitive conclusion can be drawn about what triggered the blaze.
Fire raises safety concerns at construction site
The incident has also highlighted the safety challenges associated with temporary accommodation for workers at large construction projects.
Construction labour camps often include cooking and other facilities that require careful handling and storage of LPG cylinders.
At an active construction site, the presence of combustible materials, temporary structures and gas cylinders can increase the potential consequences of a fire.
The Mulund incident did not result in reported casualties, but the rapid spread of flames and multiple cylinder explosions underline the importance of fire-safety arrangements at such premises.
The authorities are expected to assess the circumstances of the incident as part of the ongoing response.
BMC PAP project in Mulund East
The fire occurred at a BMC project for Project Affected Persons in Mulund East.
The civic body has been developing residential units in Mulund to rehabilitate people affected by various infrastructure projects. BMC has previously said that thousands of tenements are under construction in Mulund East as part of its PAP housing plans.
The workers’ camp was established to accommodate construction personnel involved in the ongoing work.
The fire therefore affected a temporary facility within a much larger construction project rather than a completed residential tower.
No casualties reported so far
The immediate priority after the fire was to evacuate workers and prevent the blaze from spreading.
With all occupants reportedly evacuated safely and no injuries or fatalities reported in the initial updates, the incident was brought under the attention of fire and police authorities without a reported loss of life.
The extent of property damage and the condition of the labour camp will be assessed after the firefighting operation.
Further details about the cause of the fire and any safety-related findings are expected as the authorities complete their assessment.
For now, the incident remains under investigation, with the seven cylinder explosions and the circumstances surrounding the initial fire forming key parts of the inquiry.