Nalasopara: Two women died and six people were injured after a major fire broke out in the 14-storey Imperial Heritage residential building in Achole, Nalasopara East, on Tuesday night. Police suspect that a short circuit, possibly linked to an electricity connection taken for a Navratri celebration organised within the building premises, might have triggered the fire.The deceased were identified as Falguni Shah (58) and Ashwini Parkar (55), both residents of the 12th floor. They died of suffocation caused by smoke inhalation, said Achole police station senior inspector SujitKumar Pawar. Three of the six people injured in the incident required hospital treatment; the other three sustained minor injuries.More than 25 residents trapped on the upper floors were rescued by the fire brigade with the help of cranes and by breaking open doors that had become difficult to open due to the heat. The blaze raged for nearly six hours before being completely extinguished around 6 am on Wednesday.The building has three wings and 154 flats. The fire broke out around 11.30 pm, reportedly after sparks emerged from electrical wiring on the 13th floor. It soon intensified and spread to other floors, forcing residents to rush downstairs. However, those living between the ninth and 14th floors were trapped as smoke and flames spread through the building.Gauri Khamkar, an injured resident of the 11th floor, recounted her ordeal. “I was sleeping at home when my neighbours informed me about the fire. I was alone inside the flat for nearly an hour, shouting for help. The smoke made it difficult to breathe. Finally, I called people I knew, who came and broke open the door to rescue me,” she said.Resident Sunil Mahadik said the lifts stopped working during the fire, while several doors became difficult to open as they swelled due to the heat.Flats on the ninth and 12th floors suffered extensive damage, while several other homes were partially damaged. The fire originated in flat 903. Police said the flat was completely gutted after the fire brigade ran out of water while attempting to douse the flames.The building’s construction was completed in 2022, but it had not yet been formally handed over by the builder. Although fire safety equipment was installed, it was not operational, said resident Lalit Dubey.Police are investigating the cause of the fire, including the possibility of a short circuit linked to the temporary electricity connection used for the Navratri celebration.
