A fire at the Imperial Heritage residential complex in Achole, Nalasopara East, killed two women, injured six people and damaged 22 flats, after an alleged illegal electricity connection for a Navratri celebration may have triggered an overload and short circuit, according to the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation fire department.
The blaze broke out on Tuesday night on the 13th floor of the building’s B wing. Falguni Shah and Ashwini Parkar died in the incident, while six other residents were injured. Two flats were completely gutted and 20 suffered partial damage, the fire brigade said after inspecting the site.
Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation fire department chief Rohan More said residents had organised a Navratri celebration in the society premises and allegedly taken an improper power connection for the event. The additional electrical load may have resulted in a short circuit, leading to the fire, he said.
Officials also found that the building’s fire safety system was non-functional. The fire brigade said the flames spread rapidly because most flats had wooden doors installed outside their entrances. The findings raise immediate safety concerns for residents of a high-rise building where evacuation and fire containment depend on functioning systems and unobstructed access.
The developer handed over the building to residents in 2023. A dispute later emerged over a demand to create three separate housing societies for the building’s three wings. The matter was taken to the sub-registrar’s office, according to the report. The supplied information does not establish whether that dispute affected maintenance or operation of the fire safety system.
Achole police senior inspector Sujitkumar Pawar said police had issued a notice to the developer and sought an explanation from residents in connection with the incident. Police have registered an accidental death report, and further action will follow the inquiry.
Electricity supply to the affected B wing had not been restored by Thursday. Some residents were provided accommodation in nearby hotels while the building remained affected by the fire and the power disruption.
The fire department’s inspection and the police inquiry will determine the circumstances behind the suspected electrical overload, the condition of the building’s fire protection equipment and the responsibility of the parties involved. For residents, the immediate issues remain access to safe housing, restoration of essential services and assessment of the damaged flats.
