Mumbai fire: BMC served restaurant notices in past, says report

A huge fire that started from a pub, 1 Above, in Mumbai's Kamala Mills claimed the lives of 14 people including 11 women on Thursday night. The fire rapidly spread to nearby restaurants and offices in the area. Most of the victims died of asphyxiation.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently conducting a demolition drive against illegal structures in the area.

Five municipal corporation officials were suspended on Friday after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an inquiry into the incident and it emerged that restaurant had been served notices in the past by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for alleged violations, a media report said.

A media outlet has reported that despite a series of violations which included unauthorised construction of a partition wall, operating in terrace space and using the terrace illegally for trade, the five officials of the local BMC office allowed the restaurant to operate and were therefore suspended.

The Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G-South Ward was transferred for the same reason, the media report said.

The adjoining Mojo Bistro restaurant terrace was being used for illegal trade activity and patrons were reportedly being allowed to smoke without permission.

"Almost a month after the Mojo's Bistro started operations in April, civic officials carried out an inspection on May 17. They found that the terrace was being used for trade activity illegally. Inspections were also carried out on July 13 and August 23. It was observed that they were allowing patrons to smoke on the premises though they had no permission for that. We prosecuted them three times for these violations," The Indian Express reported citing an official.

Illegal constructions exacerbated the fire, media reports said earlier quoting fire brigade officials.

"Had there been a proper escape route in this claustrophobic structure many lives could have been saved," an eyewitness, who works in a nearby office, told PTI.

The Mumbai Police has issued a  look out notice against all the accused today.