Seven killed in Mumbai skyscraper fire

Seven residents of a 26-storey Mumbai skyscraper were killed and seven, including six firemen, injured in a major fire which broke out on the 13th floor of the building Friday evening, officials said here Saturday.

Among the victims are a woman and six men, whose bodies were charred beyond recognition, and were recovered from the lift, lobby, staircase and other areas on the 12th, 16th and 26th floor of the Mont Blanc building in the posh Kemps Corner area of south Mumbai, an official of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Control Cell said.

"We have not been able to identify any of the victims and shall be conducting DNA tests to ascertain their identity," the official said.

He said the blaze was brought under control by early Saturday.

Around 7.30 p.m. Friday evening, a huge blaze engulfed the middle-level floors of the building which houses several top businessmen, merchants and corporate head honchos.

The fire is suspected to have started due to a short-circuit in a flat that was being renovated and spread as gas cylinders burst in other flats, but officials said the exact cause was being investigated.

Rescue teams and residents saved at least 17 residents who were trapped on various floors inside the building.

More than two dozen fire-tenders from various fire-stations were deployed to bring the blaze under control shortly after midnight.

Six firemen sustained burn injuries and were admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital.

Four of the bodies have been kept at Sir J.J. Hospital while the remaining three are in Nair Hospital, officials said.