A fire at a ground-plus-one labour camp for construction workers in the Project Affected Persons (PAP) project in Mulund East triggered seven gas-cylinder blasts on Thursday afternoon, but all occupants were evacuated safely and no casualties or injuries were reported.
The fire broke out at around 2 pm, according to a report by The Indian Express. A video from the site showed thick black smoke rising from the premises before one of the cylinders exploded, sending a large fireball and smoke into the air.
The exact cause of the fire was not known at the time of reporting. Fire brigade services were called to the site to control the blaze and prevent the cylinder blasts from causing further damage in the labour camp.
An officer said all persons occupying the premises had been safely evacuated. The report did not specify the number of residents living at the camp or the extent of damage to the ground-plus-one structure.
The incident highlights the immediate safety risks associated with gas-cylinder storage and cooking arrangements in temporary or semi-permanent accommodation used by construction workers. Such camps form part of the wider construction ecosystem in Mumbai, where workers are often housed close to project sites or in facilities connected to redevelopment and project-affected-persons housing.
The Mulund site is located within a PAP project, a category of housing associated with the relocation or rehabilitation of people affected by public infrastructure or other development projects. In this case, the affected premises were being used as a labour camp for construction workers. The supplied report did not establish whether the camp was formally authorised for residential use or whether any safety violations had been identified.
Local police officials said necessary arrangements had been made at the spot. Further details, including the cause of the fire and the extent of property damage, were still being ascertained.
The incident comes amid continuing construction activity across Mumbai, where labour accommodation, fire safety and emergency access remain closely linked to the safety of workers and surrounding communities. The immediate response at the Mulund camp focused on evacuation, firefighting and securing the site after the cylinder blasts.
Authorities are expected to establish how the fire began and whether the cylinder storage and other arrangements at the premises complied with applicable safety requirements. The fire brigade and police response will determine the next steps once the site assessment is complete.
