Private fire marshals deployed at 'Make in India' event

MUMBAI: A day after fire broke out at a cultural event being held as part of the ' Make in India Week' here, private fire marshals were today deployed outside the 26 halls where MII programmes are going on at the MMRDA grounds here.

Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, meanwhile, termed yesterday's fire incident as unfortunate.

"The mishap was very unfortunate and was handled very well under the able leadership of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis," Sitharaman said today at the Make in India Week at BKC.

The embarrassing fire incident that destroyed the entire stage during a performance made organisers requisition help from Magnum Fire Services, which rushed 26 such marshals to the venue spread across 2.2 lakh square metres.

"We got a call late last night to be here," a fire marshal said at the venue.

The marshal, who did not wish to be named, said they are deployed next to the air-conditioning machinery installed at the halls.

Pointing out the potential danger posed by the hall facades made up of ply and the carpets across the venue, the marshal explained that their job is to limit the fire in case of an incident, as the first response.

He said they will be provided specialised axes to snip wires and break glasses, and also use the fire extinguishing ash buckets placed across the venue, in case required.

A massive fire broke out on stage during a cultural programme at a ' Make In India Week' event at Girgaum Chowpatty here last night.

Several political and film personalities, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan, were present at the venue and they were quickly evacuated to a safe area.

The blaze, that started during the 'Maharashtra Rajni' event when a lavani (dance) performance was underway, was brought under control by 14 fire engines and 10 water tankers.