NEW DELHI: NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique criticised the fire department’s inadequate response to the blaze at the Croma showroom in Link Square Mall, Bandra on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday at the Croma showroom, situated in the basement of Link Square Mall on Linking Road, Bandra West, Mumbai. Officials reported that the fire began at 4.11 am, and the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) elevated it to a Level-III fire by 4.49 am, signifying its severity.

In his statement to the press, Siddique said, “We have been here since 4am. The fire department has failed to control the fire… It could have easily been controlled initially, but the fire officers were ill-equipped. There was just a small spark in the basement of the Croma store, and it could have been easily controlled if action had been taken in time. However, the fire officers were not properly equipped, and even when they had the necessary equipment, they didn’t use it correctly.”
Siddique expressed concern about the initial response to the fire, which started as a minor incident around 4 am but escalated due to ineffective handling.
He elaborated, “We kept requesting them to supply more water, but nothing was done. Even when some parts of the store were still burning, they were unable to handle the situation. When we arrived at 4am, no one from the fire brigade or police was there. I had to call the Special Commissioner at 6am before anything happened. I warned them that there were gas cylinders in the restaurants above and that this could lead to a massive explosion. Still, no one took it seriously. It’s really unfortunate. Many officers in the Mumbai Fire Brigade are capable, but without proper equipment or training, their efforts are wasted. If there were 100 people inside that building, many lives could have been lost. We have videos showing how poorly the situation was handled. This is a very serious issue, and the officer in charge must be held responsible for the damage caused.”

Siddique highlighted the absence of emergency responders upon his arrival and emphasised the potential risks posed by gas cylinders in the restaurants above the fire location.
The fire, which started in a showroom, subsequently spread throughout the mall.