It is indeed really sorry state of affairs in a Metropolitan City like Mumbai that people caught in fire tragedy caused by short circuit that ignites two gas cylinders leading to tragic deaths. Mumbai buildings are increasing becoming old and prone to fire accidents and it is up to BMC to have a disaster management team to press into service to find out the real reasons for the short circuit. The electrical wirings are getting old and thus becoming highly sensitive for causing havoc. Vikhroli fire woke up the State Government from inefficient system and the outdated and out modelled wiring system causes such serious disaster. Eye witness account clearly revealed that the blaze in Vikhroli the gas cylinder kept out in balcony alongside newspaper ignite fire and that killed the mother and her two sons is a cause for worry. Current statistics of deaths and injuries, in relation to fires proves to be alarming and an increasing number of people affected by losses and fatal injuries are being reported and accounted for each year. It is time to prevent major fires in the Metropolitan city and BMC should play positive role in paying more attention.
Jayanthi S. Maniam
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
