Fire ravages Croma store in Mumbai's Link Square Mall
Fire erupts at a mall in Bandra, Mumbai; robotic firefighter deployed to combat blaze of level IV intensity.
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Mumbai City, India — April 29, 2025
Today, a monstrous fire engulfed the Croma store situated in Link Square Mall, Bandra West, shaking Mumbai City. The raging inferno forced evacuation of the mall and halted normalcy amidst this bustling commercial zone. The cause of the blaze remains a mystery, with the authorities scrambling to uncover the exact origins.
The firefighting marathon commenced around 4:11 A.M., with multiple agencies at the scene, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, Public Works Department (PWD), local municipal staff, and even the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), all working tirelessly to quell the inferno.
The fire started small, lurking in the depths of the Croma shop's basement, but the situation escalated rapidly, leaving no stone unturned to contain the blaze. The Fire Brigade initially classified the incident as a Level I emergency; however, the situation quickly escalated, blowing past Level II as early as 4:28 A.M. To add to the chaos, the ferocity of the flames surpassed all boundaries, transforming it into a Level III emergency by 4:49 A.M.
The fire department's resources were stretched to the limit as the inferno reached the terrifying and critical Level-IV (major) classification by 6:25 A.M. A civic official reported that the blaze was contained primarily to the basement levels, but heavy smoke managed to permeate throughout the mall, creating hazardous conditions.
The fire marshals deployed a panoply of resources, mobilizing at least 13 fire engines, 9 jumbo water tankers, 2 breathing apparatus vans, 1 rescue van, and 1 quick response vehicle for the operation. In addition to this, a 108 emergency Ambulance service was prepared on standby, showcasing the preparedness of the Mumbai Fire Department.
A dozen motor pumps and three small hose lines were set into action as the firefighters fought tooth and nail to contain the blaze. Eventually, they even utilized a 'fire-robot' to augment their efforts and control the massive inferno.
In the midst of this crisis, an NCP leader, Mr. Zeeshan Siddique, voiced his concern, accus against the fire department for their apparent inability to curb the initial onset of the fire. He alleged that a single spark in the Croma showroom basement could have easily been contained had prompt action been taken. However, he alleged that the fire officers were under-prepared and lacked the necessary equipment and expertise to quell the blaze effectively.
Byculla Super Bakery Fire
Just yesterday, another unfortunate incident took place when a fire ravaged the Super Bakery in Byculla at around 5:27 P.M. Four unfortunate individuals sustained burn injuries due to the fire, which was caused by a gas leak. Thankfully, the fire was isolated to the bakery premises, and all injuries were treated at the site.
Previous Major Fire Incidents
Sunday also saw a significant blaze at the Kaiser-I-Hind building, near the Grand Hotel on Ballard Estate, in South Mumbai's Ballard Estate area. The fire erupted around 2:31 A.M., escalating to a Level-II incident by 3:30 A.M. and eventually reaching a Level III blaze by 4:17 A.M. Authorities mobilized seven fire engines, five jumbo tankers, an aerial water tower tender, one breathing apparatus van, a rescue van, a quick response vehicle, and an ambulance to battle the flames. Despite the robust firefighting efforts, multiple agencies worked tirelessly for hours, finally extinguishing the blaze by 9:05 A.M.
Sources: PTI, ANI
- Topics: Mumbai Fire, Mumbai News, Croma Store, Link Square Mall, Fire Brigade, NDRF, Mumbai Police
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- Despite the ongoing fire at the Croma store in India's Mumbai city, it was reported that a prominent figure, Mr. Zeeshan Siddique, criticized the fire department, alleging that their late response may have exacerbated the situation.
- The fire at the Byculla Super Bakery on April 28, 2025, resulted in four individuals sustaining burn injuries due to a gas leak, a stark reminder of the dangers of fires in commercial establishments.
- The general-news sector saw two significant fire incidents in Mumbai within a single week, with the Croma store and the Byculla Super Bakery both engulfed by flames.
- In addition to its ongoing efforts to contain the fire at the Croma store, the Mumbai Fire Department had previously battled a major Level-III blaze at the Kaiser-I-Hind building in South Mumbai's Ballard Estate area on Sunday.
- The crime-and-justice segment was also painting a grim picture as fire-related accidents, such as the one at the Croma store, were on the rise, prompting calls for increased preparedness and resources for first responders like firefighters.
