How long can one live in makeshift shelter, ask Sachinam heights fire survivors

Residents of Sachinam Heights at Jagannath Shankar Sheth Municipal School in Grant Road

The Sachinam Heights residents who survived the early morning blaze on Saturday have appealed to the authorities to speed up the repair work so that they can return to their flats sooner than anticipated. Several residents of the Nana Chowk tower have been given shelter at the BMC's Jagannath Shankar Sheth Municipal School in Grant Road. The civic-run school is providing temporary accommodation to those who are still not able to go to their homes.

Minal Patel, corporator from D ward, said "For the past one year, we were running a vaccination centre out of its premises, so the arrangements were already in place. The local MLA, after speaking to the residents, called me and asked to prepare to house them. He has also given a few lakh rupees for expenses and for rehabilitation efforts. The flooring, wiring or other kind of damages to the houses will be paid for from the MLA fund."

Survivors of Sachinam Heights fire at the BMC school in Grant Road on Tuesday. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Close to two dozen people are staying at the school. While some of them were shifted there after 6 pm on Saturday, others came on Sunday. Some residents had taken shelter at their relatives' place. Two classrooms, one for women and children, and another for men, have been opened up. Vijaya Gupta, a resident from the 15th floor of Sachinam Heights, said meals, snacks and milk for her grandchildren were being provided on time, but lamented at not being able to return to her home.

"We still don't know the extent of the damage. The authorities have prevented us from entering our flats, and said that it could take about a month before we could return. We are helpless as we have nowhere else to go." "The provisions and facilities are fine, but for how long can one live in a makeshift shelter?" she asks.

Gupta's daughter-in-law, Khushboo, a housewife, said "Escaping seemed the correct decision, as there was thick smoke in the passage right outside our flat and we ran down the stairs in darkness. The facilities at the school are not the best, we miss our home. We were allowed to fetch basic belongings, like clothes, from our house. The wires and cables are completely gutted, so the power won't be restored for some time at least. The building has now been sealed."

Police bandobast at Sachinam Heights at Nana Chowk on Tuesday. Pics/Bipin Kokate

Prabhakar Shetty, a vegetable vendor who lives in the building, said "We could at least go get out clothes, etc., but residents from the 19th and 20th floors were not allowed at all." "The corporator has assured us that we can stay in the school till our building is fixed. Our flat is currently unlivable. The authorities are doing a good job, but we just want them to speed up their work," he added.

A second chance at life

Jitendra Khot, a newspaper vendor who lives on the second floor, said, "I have a newspaper stall at Gowalia Tank. In the morning, I also deliver papers in the area. That day, after finishing the deliveries, I came home to rest for a bit. However, I felt something was amiss and went downstairs to check with the security guard. It was then I saw smoke emerge from the building and there was a fire. I live alone, so it was easier for me to escape. I have lost my father and uncle to COVID-19. Now, I am the only surviving member of my family. I am happy that life has given me a second chance."

Khot added that the fire fighting system wasn't used even once since the apartment was built. Hemant Parab, the chief fire officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, said that the fire alarm or hose pipes and reels were dysfunctional.