Devendra Fadnavis asks for fire brigade modernisation in the wake of Kalbadevi fire

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today asked Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta to ensure upgrading and modernisation of the city's fire brigade in the wake of the Kalbadevi fire last month which claimed lives of four fire officials.

He said he has received the high-level committee's report on the fire that broke out in Kalbadevi's Gokul Niwas building on May 9.

"I have received the Kalbadevi fire report. Directed BMC Commissioner to make it public," Fadnavis said.

"Upgrading and modernisation should be taken up immediately," the chief minister tweeted.

The Gokul Niwas inferno killed top officers of the Mumbai fire brigade, that included Chief Fire Officers Sunil Nesarikar, Sudhir Amin, Mahendra Desai and Sanjay Rane.

The committee comprising experts across departments was divided into three sub-committees, with specific terms of reference. None of the members was directly involved in the incident.

The report is understood to have recommended urgent procurement of mini fire tenders for easy navigation in narrow, congested lanes and fast-tracking construction of new fire stations across the city.

At present, Mumbai has 33 fire stations, but needs at least 100 fire stations as per global standards.

The report calls for upgrading human resource by filling up vacant posts and using modern equipment.

The investigation report on the fire that broke out last year in Andheri's Lotus Business Park is yet to come out.