Raging warehouse fire destroys over 1000 homes in the slums of Mumbai

Raging warehouse fire destroys over 1000 homes in the slums of Mumbai

A warehouse explosion in India's financial capital destroyed over 1000 homes in a nearby suburban slum.

A raging fire started in a warehouse in India’s financial capital of Mumbai on Monday, destroying over 1,000 homes in the nearby slums. Indian authorities state that at least two people have been killed, with many others being rushed to nearby hospitals.

The homes, are known as “hutments,” and nearly an entire colony of these shacks were destroyed in the blaze in the suburban slums of the sprawling city of Mumbai, according to The Hindustan Times. The suspected cause of the blaze is under investigation, but it is believed to have started in a warehouse when several gas cylinders exploded and quickly spread the inferno into the city and surrounding slums.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai released a statement on Monday declaring that the fire completely engulfed the Damu Nagar slum, which measures about 500 x 1000 square meters. Thus far only one body has been found, butdozens of people have been sent to local public and private hospitals. The body has been identified  that of a 45-year-old man.

It took area firefighters over three hours to get the blaze under control. The fire broke out at the warehouse at 12:30 p.m. on Monday Mumbai time. At present, firefighting officials say that the fire is under control. They also said that gas cylinders may have also contributed to the fast moving and destructive nature of the blaze.

Firefighters have reported that tight quarters within the slum made it difficult to battle the fire. They also fear that there may be people who were not able to escape and remain trapped amid the wreckage. Video taken shows huge black clouds of smoke covering wide swaths of the area, and several gas cylinders could be seen exploding one after another. The explosions were heard over a mile away.

Residents will be allowed back in soon.

Be social, please share!

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail