Major Fire Erupts at Mumbai's Historic Crawford Market, Three Shops Destroyed
A significant fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday at the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, widely known as Crawford Market, in Mumbai, resulting in the destruction of three shops. The blaze, which is suspected to have originated from a short circuit, started in a store located near the famous Badshah Cold Drinks and Snacks outlet.
Firefighting Efforts and Challenges
Local residents first noticed smoke around 6:30 am and immediately alerted the fire brigade. By the time fire personnel arrived, flames had already engulfed one shop. A team of firefighters, along with five fire engines and three jumbo tankers, was deployed to combat the blaze. However, the dense smoke from burning plastic material accumulated in the area, initially preventing firefighters from entering the premises. Smoke exhaust equipment had to be utilized before firefighting operations could commence.
The fire was brought under control after approximately four hours of intense efforts, but cooling operations were still ongoing when reporters visited the site on Sunday afternoon. Deputy fire officer (special operations) stated, "The fire was in a shop that had a lot of plastic material in it. The smoke from it accumulated around the area."
Impact on Adjacent Businesses
In addition to the shop where the fire originated, two other businesses were affected. The Badshah store's shutters were down and its front facade was locked, but it sustained damage. Another shop, a cookware and kitchenware outlet, was not directly consumed by the flames. Instead, its stock and interior suffered harm during the firefighting operations aimed at dousing the adjacent blaze. Eyewitnesses estimated that about 70% of the stock and property across the affected shops were destroyed.
Investigation and Additional Incident
The exact cause of the fire has yet to be officially ascertained, though authorities suspect a short circuit. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a fire erupted late Saturday night at DB Marg near Mumbai Central, impacting multiple shops in a ground-plus-one structure. This highlights ongoing fire safety concerns in the city.
Fire officials continue to investigate the Crawford Market incident to determine the precise origin and prevent future occurrences. The market, a historic landmark, has seen increased scrutiny regarding safety protocols following this event.
