Mumbai: Fire at Zia Apartment at Belasis Road, residents blame illegal commercial activities in godown

A major fire broke out at Zia Apartment in Mumbai central on Friday. Zia Apartment on Belasis Road is situated near Anjuman Girls High School. 

The fire broke out around 12: 19 pm on Friday. People stranded on upper floors were rescued through the staircase.

According to reports, the fire was confined to the godown in the basement of the building which has six floors.   Eight fire engines have been pressed into service. 

Four people who got stranded in the lift were rescued by opening the lift door manually.

"The level 3 fire is under control now. No injuries are reported till now," said Chief Fire Officer P S Rahangdale told DNA.

Residents of the Zia Apartment had registered a complained against illegal commercial activities being carried out from the basement. They wrote a letter to Fire Department and officials visited the place and asked concerned authorities to take action. But no concrete action was taken and safety norms were blatantly flouted. 

"Fire department officials, after investigations, found the complaints to be true, but other departments tasked with the responsibility to put an end to the commercial activities refused to take action," alleged Rizwan Khan who resides at Ziya Apartment.