New Delhi: A major fire broke out at Aayakar Bhavan, which houses Income Tax Department offices and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office, in Mumbai’s Churchgate on Monday afternoon, sending thick smoke through the building and prompting a large firefighting and rescue operation. Most occupants were evacuated safely, while firefighters used staircases and ladders to rescue people stranded on several floors and the terrace, with no casualties reported.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade received the first call at 2.01pm after the fire was reported in the basement of the building on Maharshi Karve Road. The incident was initially classified as a Level-I fire at 2.10 pm and upgraded to Level-II at about 2.45 pm as additional firefighting resources were deployed.
Smoke spreads through building
Although the flames remained confined to the basement, smoke moved through the upper floors and became a major challenge for firefighters.
Fire officials said the building’s central air-conditioning system and closed windows contributed to smoke logging several floors. Firefighters broke window panes to improve ventilation and deployed smoke extractors as teams wearing breathing apparatus entered affected sections.
Most people inside managed to leave the building, but others required assistance.
According to fire brigade and police accounts, 15 people were rescued from the first three floors, while another five to six were brought down from the first floor using a ladder. Eight people stranded on the terrace were rescued with the help of a turntable ladder.
At least eight fire engines were deployed, along with water tankers and other emergency vehicles. Fire personnel used hose lines and breathing equipment while simultaneously conducting searches of the smoke-filled building.
CBI office housed in building
Aayakar Bhavan primarily accommodates different units of the Income Tax Department, while officials said a CBI office is also located in the building.
The presence of the central investigating agency drew attention to the extent of the damage, but there was no official statement saying that the CBI office, case files, evidence or other records had been affected.
Authorities had also not reported any disruption to CBI operations arising from the fire.
An assistant commissioner of police, citing information from Income Tax Department officials, said about 1,800 employees work in Aayakar Bhavan. Most people present at the time of the fire were able to leave without injury.
Fire confined to basement
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said the fire was confined to an area of about 7,000 to 8,000 sq ft in the basement.
Officials said the affected area contained electrical wiring and installations, records stored in cabins, scrap and discarded records, paper stock, wooden partitions and other material. The basement remained heavily smoke-logged during the operation.
The reference to stored records does not establish that sensitive Income Tax Department, CBI documents were damaged. Neither agency had issued an assessment identifying the nature or importance of any records affected by the blaze.
The basement also houses a cooperative bank for Income Tax Department employees, according to Rediff.
Cause remains unknown
Authorities said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained. Neither the Mumbai Fire Brigade nor police had publicly attributed the blaze to an electrical fault, negligence or any other specific cause.
Officials continued checking the building after the evacuation to ensure nobody remained trapped. No injuries, deaths had been reported in the latest official accounts.
The fire was extinguished by early evening, after which firefighters continued ventilation and assessment of the basement. Authorities were examining the extent of the damage, while the cause of the blaze and any impact on normal operations at Aayakar Bhavan remained under assessment.