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Mumbai building fire: One fireman dies in multi-storey building fire in Andheri

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A major fire broke out on 21st floor of Lotus Business park building at Andheri, Link road. This area is heavily crowded and fire officials have successfully managed to douse the fire. 

One fireman died in the multi-storey building fire in Andheri. 

Also read: Mumbai building fire: Rescue operation ends in tragedy

Fire brigade, Navy and Coast Guard personnel are fighting a grim battle to rescue firemen trapped on the terrace of a 22-storey commercial building blazing up in a western Mumbai suburb where two helicopters have been pressed into service to evacuate them.

A Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) official said that around 15-20 fire fighters were stuck on the terrace of Lotus Business Park on Andheri Link road.

Dramatic video footages showed Navy and and Coast Guard helicopters lowering ropes on the rooftop to help the stranded firemen clamber up to safety from their perilous perch.

An unspecified number of fire fighters have so far been rescued after showers reduced the intensity of the blaze that forced them to cling precariously to railings and scaffoldings of the glass-facade tower, raising fears about their safety

The choppers were rushed to the rescue of stranded firemen after gusty winds fanned the fire making their evacuation impossible by any other means.

According to fire brigade officials, 22 fire engines, 10 water tankers and 6 jetties have been deployed to quell the blaze.

"We have also requested the Thane Municipal Corporation and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and others to provide additional fire engines to help us bring the fire under control," the officer said.

"We had initially categorised the fire at Grade 2 and sent 12 fire engines to the spot. The strong winds at the top further aggravated the intensity of the flames and we have now further upgraded the fire to the top notch," the official said.

According to officials, the blaze started on the 21st floor of the building around 11:30 am and soon spread to the 20th floor.

There were no reports of any civilian casualties yet as people working in the offices were quickly evacuated by the fire brigade.

"We got a request from the fire brigade to provide aerial help to the firemen who have been stuck on the 22 storey commercial building. The Indian Navy has deployed a Seeking Charlie helicopter and the Coastguard a Chetak to rescue them," a Navy spokesperson told PTI.

Meanwhile, fire officials who were deployed to rescue people and douse fire are stuck in the building and a chopper has been deployed to rescue them. 

Coast guard helicopter was sent to rescue stuck officials who were sent in to put off the fire. 

Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, who has three offices in the business centre which houses many other offices, is also at the site. 15 fire tenders are at spot and trying to control the fire. Navy and coastguard helicopters were also called in for the rescue operation. 

Below are some news updates: 

The fire reportedly broke out around 10:15 am on the 21st floor of the 22-storey Lotus Business Park building. 

 "We got a call at around 11 am that a fire has broken out in the commercial building. We initially thought it was a grade-1 fire and sent four fire tankers to the spot. The fire was then upgraded to grade 2 and we have now deployed 12 fire engines and nine water tankers at the site," a fire brigade official told PTI. 

"There was lot of smoke emanating from the top floors where the fire broke out. This caused panic among the people working there, which made the evacuation process a little difficult. But as per initial reports, the fire brigade has managed to evacuate everyone," a municipal official said. 

Around 12 fire tenders and 8 water tankers have been rushed to the spot to douse the fire. 

Fire fighters are struggling to reach upper floors to douse the flames and no casualties have been reported yet. 

Prior to this, one more major fire had broken down in Elphinstone  A major fire Friday broke out in a 22-storey commercial building in a western suburb of Mumbai, officials said. 

No injuries or casualties have been reported so far, they said. The blaze started on the 21st floor of Lotus Business Park on Andheri Link road, and later spread to the 20th floor, according to fire brigade officials.

Read: Mumbai major fire: Trapped employees finally evacuated

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