Fire at Lotus Business Park

Fire at Lotus Business Park at Andheri in Mumbai. A major fire today broke out in a 22-storey commercial building in a western suburb of Mumbai, officials said. The blaze started on the 21st floor of Lotus Business Park on Andheri Link road, and later spread to the 20th floor, according to fire brigade officials.

Fire at Lotus Business Park at Andheri in Mumbai. "We got a call at around 11 AM that a fire has broken out in the commercial building. We initially thought it was a grade-1 fire and sent four fire tankers to the spot. The fire was then upgraded to grade 2 and we have now deployed 12 fire engines and nine water tankers at the site," said a fire brigade official.

Fire at Lotus Business Park at Andheri in Mumbai. "There was lot of smoke emanating from the top floors where the fire broke out. This caused panic among the people working there, which made the evacuation process a little difficult. But as per initial reports, the fire brigade has managed to evacuate everyone," a municipal official said.

Fire at Lotus Business Park at Andheri in Mumbai. A Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) official said that around 15-20 fire fighters were stuck on the terrace of Lotus Business Park on Andheri Link road. Dramatic video footages showed Navy and and Coast Guard helicopters lowering ropes on the rooftop to help the stranded firemen clamber up to safety from their perilous perch.

Fire at Lotus Business Park at Andheri in Mumbai. The choppers were rushed to the rescue of stranded firemen after gusty winds fanned the fire making their evacuation impossible by any other means. According to fire brigade officials, 22 fire engines, 10 water tankers and 6 jetties have been deployed to quell the blaze. Photos by Suryakant Niwate