The Sakinaka scrap godown fire killed two unidentified people and injured six others after flames engulfed a compound on Kairani Road in Mumbai on Tuesday evening, highlighting the risks posed by densely packed commercial premises containing combustible materials.
The Level-II fire broke out at Abdu Rashid Compound at 6.18 pm and spread across 60 to 70 commercial galas and chawls housed in a ground-floor and partially one-floor structure, according to a report by the Times of India. The blaze was extinguished at 12.30 am.
Two charred bodies were recovered from a stock of aerosol containers inside the premises. The bodies were shifted to Rajawadi Hospital for post-mortem examination, while the identities of the deceased had not been established at the time of the report.
Four injured men were admitted to the trauma ward at Rajawadi Hospital with burns ranging from 10% to 80%. The injured were taken to the hospital by police and private vehicles before fire brigade personnel arrived, the report said. Two other people were also reported injured in the incident.
Jahid Abidullah Qureshi, 20, suffered 40% burns to his hands, chest and face. Tofik Shadilal Qureshi, also 20, sustained 80% burns to his hands, chest, abdomen, legs, neck and face. Lalchand Ramlakhan Gautam, 40, suffered 10% burns to his right shoulder and face, while Kamal Jalaluddin Shah, 42, sustained 40% burns to his face, chest and both hands.
All four men were admitted for treatment at Rajawadi Hospital. The injuries and fatalities came as the fire moved through a mixed-use compound where commercial galas and residential chawls occupied the same low-rise structure. The presence of aerosol containers added to the immediate hazard inside the scrap storage premises.
The incident brings attention to the operational challenges of responding to fires in crowded compounds where storage, commercial activity and housing exist in close proximity. Such layouts can complicate access, increase the speed at which flames spread and expose residents and workers to risks from stored materials. The available report did not provide details of the premises’ permissions, fire-safety arrangements or the cause of ignition.
The two deceased persons were scheduled for post-mortem examination, while the four named injured men remained under treatment at Rajawadi Hospital. Further official details on the cause of the fire, the identity of the deceased and any investigation or safety action were awaited.
