A fire broke out in the basement of Aayakar Bhavan, the Income Tax office on Maharshi Karve Road in Mumbai's Churchgate, on Monday afternoon. The Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) launched firefighting and evacuation operations after smoke spread to the upper floors of the building.
According to the BMC Disaster Management Cell, the fire was reported at around 2:01 p.m. and was officially declared a Level-I fire at 2:10 p.m.
The blaze was confined to the basement of the basement-plus-ground-plus-seven-storey building. While one team of the Mumbai Fire Brigade was engaged in firefighting operations, another team was evacuating employees and others stranded on the upper floors.
Fire personnel used ladders through the windows to rescue people from the building. A turntable ladder and an aerial ladder platform were also deployed to assist with the evacuation.
Multiple agencies, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, BEST personnel, 108 ambulance services and BMC ward staff, were mobilised at the spot.
Several senior fire officials and firefighting personnel, along with multiple fire engines and specialised emergency vehicles, were deployed to bring the blaze under control and assist with the rescue operation.
No injuries or casualties have been reported so far, according to fire officials.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Firefighting and rescue operations were continuing, with further details on the cause and extent of the damage awaited.
