A massive fire erupted on Thursday morning at Mumbai’s JNS Business Centre on S.V. Road, Behrampada, near Gandhi School in Jogeshwari West, sending thick black smoke into the sky and triggering a large-scale rescue operation.
The blaze was first reported at 10:46 a.m. and was initially categorised as a Level-I fire. Within minutes, it was upgraded to Level-II at 10:48 a.m., and by 10:54 a.m., declared a Level-III emergency as flames spread rapidly across the upper floors of the 13-storey commercial building.
According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the fire engulfed the 9th to 12th floors of the glass-fronted building, which posed challenges to firefighters due to intense heat and poor ventilation.
A massive firefighting response was launched, with nine fire engines, seven jumbo tankers, two aerial ladder platforms, two turntable ladders, a foam tender, and other emergency vehicles deployed to the site. Senior fire officials, including the Chief Fire Officer and multiple divisional and station officers, are overseeing operations.
Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus carried out a floor-by-floor search and rescue as dense smoke filled the upper levels. By 1:31 p.m., the MFB confirmed that 24 people trapped inside had been safely rescued using staircases and a hydraulic platform (HP-4 cage).
At least ten people were admitted to HBT Hospital for treatment, though their conditions are yet to be confirmed.
As of Thursday afternoon, firefighting and ventilation efforts continued to bring the blaze fully under control. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Authorities have cordoned off the area, and cooling operations remain underway as fire personnel continue to douse hotspots and ensure structural safety.
