Mumbai: 6 killed, hundreds left homeless as fire breaks out in Mahim slums

At least six people were killed and eight injured in a fire that gutted over 50 hutments in southern Mumbai's Mahim area early on Friday, officials said.

Around 25 vehicles, including 12 fire engines, were rushed to combat the blaze and finally managed to control it after four hours. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The fire was brough under control by 9:30 am.

According to the BMC Disaster Control Centre, the fire broke out around 5 am in the Naya Nagar slums, near Sion Mahim link road in Mahim and quickly spread, catching the occupants unaware in their sleep.

"The injured have been admitted to Bhabha Hospital and Sion Hospital," said a fire official.

Congress MP from the area, Eknath Gaekwad, said the slum is a thickly populated and there was a possibility of the casualty figures going up.

"The narrow lanes in the congested locality prevented quicker rescue operations, but the city fire brigade did a commendable job and prevented higher casualties," Gaekwad said from the scene of the tragedy.

Hundreds of families suddenly rendered homeless sat on the roadside, crying helplessly.

Gaekwad and other social workers have assured relief to the displaced families.