A 16-year-old boy lost his life and three others were injured after a massive electrical fire broke out around 4.15 am on Monday at Machhimar Nagar in Cuffe Parade, South Mumbai. As per fire department officials, the blaze was confined to electric wiring, electric installations, three electric vehicles’ batteries, and household articles in a 10×10-sq-ft area on the first floor of the one-plus-one chawl structure. The deceased, Yash Vitthal Khot, succumbed to burn injuries in the ICU of St George’s Hospital.
Spot at Machhimar Nagar in Cuffe Parade where the fire broke out on Monday. PICS/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR
Vishwanath Pawar, a neighbour, told mid-day that all four victims were sound asleep when the incident occurred. “We got a call from other neighbours and their relatives. We rushed to the hospital. But unfortunately, Yash was completely burnt from the front. We couldn’t even recognise his face properly.” Of the other three, Devendra Choudhary, 30, has been admitted to the ICU, while Viraj Khot, 13, and Sangram Kurne, 25, continue to be treated at the general ward.
“Choudhary has sustained around 25-30 per cent burns on various parts of his body. Though we do not have a dedicated burn unit, since the degree of burns is less than 40 per cent, our surgical staff can treat them. Khot and Kurne have 13 and 15 per cent burns, respectively. All three of them have acid burns due to the electric batteries. They will need at least a week to 10 days to heal and then at least a month to recover,” said Dr Ganesh Bhandare, resident medical officer of the hospital.
‘EV batteries killed my son’
Weeping and collapsing, Yash’s mother couldn’t stop her tears as his body arrived at their house in Cuffe Parade on Monday afternoon. “He was a happy and jolly child. He would never refuse help to anyone. The previous evening, he was bursting crackers with friends and enjoying the festival. Humne kabhi nahi socha tha ki Diwali ke tyohar pe humare ghar ka chirag ujad jayega. Once our daughter is married off, who will take care of us in our old age? We can rebuild our home, but from where do we get our son back?” said Sunita Vitthal Khot, mother of the deceased.
Sunita Khot, mother of the deceased
When mid-day tried to understand what the electric vehicle batteries were doing inside the house, the neighbours informed that Khot and a cousin would help their fathers in their small-scale business of providing ice to restaurants and other establishments. “They would use electric scooters to transport the ice. As we live in a chawl and do not have charging stations installed, every night they would remove the batteries and charge them at home,” said a neighbour.
Last rites
While Yash’s body has been brought back home, the family has decided to cremate him at their home town in Kolhapur. “As soon as we were informed about the situation, his father, who had gone to their native place for some work, left from there. As soon as he reaches here, they will take the body to Kolhapur and conduct his final rites there,” said Pawar.
