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, forcing the evacuation of everyone occupying the premises. No casualties or injuries were reported, according to an officer quoted in the report.
The fire broke out at around 2 pm on October 8. A video circulated on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the premises before one of the cylinders exploded, producing a large fireball and a plume of smoke.
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, while local police officials said necessary arrangements had been made at the spot.
The labour camp housed construction workers associated with the PAP project, placing the incident within a residential and construction-site safety setting rather than an isolated industrial premises. The report did not provide details about the number of workers present, the extent of damage to the structure, or whether nearby buildings were affected.
The cylinder blasts followed the initial outbreak of fire at the camp. The available account did not establish whether the cylinders were being used for cooking, stored for project operations, or kept in another part of the premises. It also did not state whether the camp had suffered structural damage or whether residents would be allowed to return.
The incident highlights the operational risks associated with temporary or semi-permanent accommodation used by construction workers, where cooking fuel, dense occupancy and active project areas can exist in close proximity. However, the cause of this fire and the condition of the premises remained subject to further assessment by the relevant authorities.
All occupants were safely evacuated, and no injuries or deaths had been reported. Police officials said arrangements had been made at the location, while further details were being ascertained. The next updates are expected to clarify the cause of the fire, the extent of damage and the status of the labour camp.
