Colaba Fire: Cooling operations underway

A day after a massive fire gutted large portions of a commercial-cum-residential building in south Mumbai, cooling operations have been going on at the British-era structure to minimise the impact of the blaze.

The blaze broke out at 3.50 PM in the first floor of the ground plus three building on Thursday, located in upscale Colaba, which houses famous Cafe Mondegar and guest houses where some foreign nationals were staying.

However, no casualty or injury was reported in the incident as occupants were evacuated swiftly.

The blaze has been brought under control and currently cooling operations are underway, Disaster Control Department (DC) of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials said.

As many as eight fire and six water tankers along with the police personnel of Colaba police station are on the spot since morning, officials said.

According to Chief Fire Officer Prabhat Rahangadale the flames were contained soon and were prevented from spreading to adjoining buildings.

Locals claimed that the blaze started due to a short-circuit in a hotel on the first floor of the structure. Rahangadale, however, said the exact cause will be ascertained only after a probe.

As many has 14 fire tenders were initially pressed into service. Four fire tenders from Naval Dockyard along with fire fighting equipment later joined the operations.