7 sisters went for a party, 5 returned

A night out for seven sisters ended in tragedy with two of them not returning home. Fashion designer Kavita Dharani (36) and homemaker Tejal Gandhi (37), who died in the fire at 1Above, had taken refuge in the men’s loo after the fire began spreading across the floor. Gandhi had celebrated her wedding anniversary a day earlier.

On Friday, relatives of both families shuttled between the homes in Ghatkopar (east) trying hard to console the families.

Shefali Dharani, the third sister who was accompanying them, said, “We were allotted a corner table. We noticed the terrace was covered with a black sheet and a temporary structure propped up by bamboos. We also noticed the entire terrace was covered and some celebration going on,” she said.


She recalled seeing panic-stricken people stranded in the corridor. “That’s when my two sisters headed to the men’s toilet.