On Tuesday, 17 September, a fire broke out at both an eye clinic and a fertility center located in a commercial building in Thane, Maharashtra. The incident occurred around 11 PM when nine patients were undergoing treatment at the facilities. The fire originated on the 11th floor of the building near Cadbury Junction in the Kopek area of the city. It took firefighters approximately five hours to bring the situation under control, with the fire finally extinguished by 4 AM.
Authorities have confirmed that, fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Investigations suggest that the fire began in the office of a trust on the 11th floor, though the exact cause remains unclear. The smoke from the fire rapidly spread through the building, which housed both medical facilities, causing significant disruption.
Emergency services, including the Thane Fire Brigade, the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC), and the Thane District Rescue Force, responded swiftly. Nine patients, who were being treated at the eye clinic, were rescued by the emergency teams. Additionally, one individual at the fertility center was also safely evacuated from the building. The prompt response of the rescue teams played a crucial role in ensuring there were no injuries.
However, the rescue teams faced challenges in controlling the fire because of the timing of the incident. Since the fire broke out around midnight, all the doors to the offices, including the one where the fire started, were locked, making it difficult for the fire brigade to access the source of the blaze immediately. This delay allowed the fire and smoke to spread more quickly, complicating the firefighters’ efforts.
As the office where the fire broke out was also closed, the firefighters found it difficult to douse the flames. The firefighters had to use special equipment to break open the office to extinguish the fire. The operation continued till around 4 am
Yasin Tadvi, Chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell TMC
The fire was finally contained by around 4 AM, after several hours of coordinated efforts by the various emergency services. As of now, the cause of the fire is still under investigation, and authorities are looking into all possible angles, including electrical faults or negligence. Further updates are expected as the inquiry progresses.
This incident highlights the importance of fire safety protocols, especially in commercial buildings that house critical medical facilities. Ensuring that fire exits are accessible at all times and that emergency response systems are fully functional is essential to preventing such incidents from escalating.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Yash Kamble/MSM)
