Mumbai, February 9 A 63-year-old woman died and her 34-year-old niece was injured after a fire broke out in their apartment in a 13-story building in the Vile Parle area on Monday, the day before a wedding in their family, officials said.
A police officer clarified that the injured person was the niece of the deceased, not her daughter, as previously reported.
The fire broke out in the apartment of the Satra family in the Suvidha Pearl Building at 9:51 AM. At least five fire engines and other vehicles from the Mumbai Fire Brigade extinguished the flames after three hours.
The apartment is owned by the family of the builder who constructed the high-rise.
The incident occurred when all members of the Satra family were attending rituals on the premises of the building when they spotted smoke coming from the apartment, he said.
"Bhavna Satra, the sister-in-law of the builder, and her niece Anree rushed to the apartment. Satra was trapped inside while Anree escaped with minor injuries. Since she was an asthma patient, the 63-year-old woman died from suffocation," the officer added.
Police have registered a report of accidental death, the officer said, adding that the cause of the fire is not known.