A day after a fire began at a restaurant in Mumbai’s Kamala Mills compound and spread, killing 14 people, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation began demolishing restaurants and illegal structures in mill premises across Lower Parel, The Indian Express reported. By the end of the day, the civic authority had demolished such structures in around 100 restaurants and pubs in the city, PTI reported.
The fire broke out at 1 Above restaurant soon after midnight on Thursday, then spread to other eateries and the next building.
The Mumbai civic body on Saturday said four restaurants in Kamala Mills and Raghuvanshi Mills faced demolition, the newspaper reported, and the asbestos roof was removed at three of them.
The municipal corporation chief Ajoy Mehta set up 25 teams to inspect bars, restaurants and malls in Kamala Mills, The Times of India reported.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited the site of the fire on Friday and promised that all illegal structures will be demolished “on a war footing”. Five civic officials had also been suspended.
Opposition leaders have said corruption in the civic body was to blame for the deaths. The Congress party demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The Mumbai police on Friday issued a lookout notice against the three owners of 1 Above restaurant. They have also been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
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