At least two people were killed and several others injured after a massive fire broke out in the Damu Nagar slum in north Mumbai's Kandivali suburb on Monday afternoon.
The deaceased have not been identified yet as their bodies were charred beyond recognition. The injured were rushed to the nearby Shatabdi Hospital, said officials.
About 1,000 houses have been burnt in the area near Akurli road in Kandivali East and many slum dwellers are suspected to be trapped in the fire.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze was caused by a gas cylinder blast and at least 20 such explosions have been reported from the area. Some TV reports suggest the gas cylinders were stored in a local godown.
An rescue operation was being carried out by 16 fire tenders, 12 water tanks and five fire brigade officials, PTI quoted an official as saying.
Fire tenders were unable to reach the spot as the godown was located in a congested area. The blaze has also caused traffic snarls in the locality.
The fire brigade is making efforts to evacuate local residents safely as there are fears about the blaze spreading to other areas and a nearby forest.
The first visuals of the massive fire show plumes of black smoke billowing from the slum area.
Check out latest photo and video of the Mumbai massive fire:
Fire in a godown in Kandivalli East(Mumbai), 16 fire tenders now at the spot. pic.twitter.com/SlfNY33E5T
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 7, 2015
Video via Indian tweeple: huge fire broke out, apparently as a result of series of cyllinder blast, pic.twitter.com/hILk2p5G3o in Mumbai — Khalid Khan™ (@khalidkhan787) December 7, 2015
