Fire personnel dousing a major fire that broke out at a building in the Colaba Causeway in South Mumbai on Thursday. (PTI Photo)
Highlights
- Fire in Metro Building in Colaba Causeway in South Mumbai, 2 rescued
- 12 fire engines present at the spot, 4 fire engines from Navy Dockyard
- Cafe Mondegar and McDonald's are part of the building
A massive fire broke out in the five-storey Metro House building on the Colaba Causeway, a busy commercial street in south Mumbai, on Thursday afternoon.
There were no casualties or injuries as its occupants, which include some foreign nationals, were swiftly moved out, officials said.
Dark smoke billowed out of the top floors of Metro House since the fire broke out at 4 pm. The commercial-cum-residential building houses the famous Cafe Mondegar and a McDonald's outlet. It is very close to Regal Cinema, a Mumbai landmark.
The blaze was contained after nearly five hours of fire-fighting operations.
"The building was immediately evacuated and no casualties were reported... We have been able to contain the flames and not allow them to spread to adjoining buildings. The main staircase collapsed making access into the old building very difficult," said Chief Fire Officer Prabhat Rahangadale. (
Pictures)
The building has several guest houses, which were occupied by foreigners. One of them, Mustafa Elbeder, who is from Sudan, said, "I was in my room on the second floor, when somebody knocked my door and asked me to come out. I rushed down and then realised a fire has broken out in the building."
Citizens from Somalia and Ethiopia were also residing in the building.
Two people were rescued by the police. More than 12 fire engines were pressed into service to douse the flames.
The Navy also sent four fire engines with specialized fire-fighting equipment, its PRO Captain DK Sharma said. The Naval dockyard in Mumbai is about half a km away from the site of the fire.
The Colaba Causeway was closed to the public. The area has both shops and homes and is close to landmarks like the Gateway of India and Mumbai's Taj Hotel.
Witnesses have posted videos and photos on Twitter.