Bhayander Fire Claims First Life: Woman Succumbs to Burn Injuries

A 69-year-old woman, Shakila Qureshi, succumbed to her injuries on Monday, becoming the first fatality resulting from a fire that erupted in a Bhayander East residential building on Friday night. She had sustained approximately 25% burns in the incident that originated in the ground-floor meter box of Aquarius Tower.

Firefighters successfully rescued 104 residents from the smoke-filled structure. While most injured individuals have been discharged, Qureshi's husband and another resident remain in the ICU. The injured included women, men, and children, highlighting the widespread impact of the blaze.

Following the death, Mira Road police initiated an accidental death report. Authorities stated that further legal action, including the registration of an FIR, would depend on the fire brigade's findings regarding negligence. The victim's son noted that hospital facilities for burn victims were unavailable locally, necessitating treatment across Mumbai.

He also alleged that promised government aid for medical treatment had not materialized. The son pointed to a lack of inspection of meter boxes as a potential cause for the erosion and subsequent fire, which led to multiple hospitalizations.