9 killed, fireman injured in Mumbai medical store fire

Among the five deceased children was a 3-month-old infant, they said. The fire occurred early in the morning at ‘Wafa’ medical store located on the ground floor of a chawl in Juhi Galli on Wireless Road in Andheri, Mumbai police spokesman Ashok Dudhe said.   

Eight persons were initially killed in the blaze. Later, a seriously injured woman also succumbed to her burns at a hospital, police said. The families of the victims were staying on the first and second floors of the premises, he said. Due to thick smoke in the store, people were not able to come out from the room and died of suffocation. Three fire fighting engines and one water tanker were deployed to control the fire.

According to police and fire brigade officials, the electric wiring and other power installations in the 120 sq ft medical store caught fire. The blaze then spread to other floors of the ground plus two-floor chawl in which nearly 17-18 people were staying.