A fire broke out at the Mahatma Phule Market, also known as Crawford Market, in south Mumbai on Thursday, NDTV reported. The blaze is limited to a few shops in the iconic market and is under control, according to fire officials. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far.
The fire began around 6.15 pm. The Mumbai Fire Brigade said 10 of its engines and two fire jets were rushed to the site.
Mumbai Chief Fire Officer Prabhat Rahangdale said the blaze was confined to the lofts of two or three shops, Mumbai Mirror reported. “Breaking of shutters of adjacent galas are in progress to check the spread of fire,” he said.
Fire officials told The Times of India that Crawford Market was not crowded at the time of the blaze due to the lockdown restrictions in place to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The iconic market, designed by architect William Emerson, was completed in 1869. It is located near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station, and is a wholesale market for fruits, vegetables and poultry. After Independence, Crawford Market was renamed Mahatma Phule Mandai.
The market is currently being renovated, though work has slowed down because of the lockdown. The redevelopment project is scheduled to be completed in 2022, The Times of India reported.
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