Hoax call may have led to fireman's death: Official

A hoax distress call might have led to the death of a fireman in Friday's fire that broke out in a 22-storeyed building here, a top fire official said Saturday.

The fireman, Nitin Yevlekar, had gone to check out a distress call of a woman that she was trapped in one of the sections of the building, deputy chief fire officer Sunil Nesarikar said.

Nesarikar said: "However, there was nobody in that area and it was probably a hoax call. We are requesting Mumbai police to investigate."

The deceased fireman was trapped along with 10 other colleagues in the thick smoke billowing on the top of the Lotus Business Park building in suburban Andheri West that houses the office of film star Hrithik Roshan.

Yevlekar's body was cremated with full honours Saturday. The funeral was held only after the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) conceded to certain demands made by Yevlekar's widow Shubhangi.

Shubhangi had refused to claim her husband's body until the civic body gave her a written assurance that she would be given a suitable job and compensation of Rs.1.50 million.

"After the funeral ceremonies are over, nobody will bother about us... We shall be on the streets... So, I have demanded a written assurance," Shubhangi said.

Meanwhile, the MCGM revoked the occupation certificate issued to the building.