Massive fire in Bandra East, local trains unaffected

A massive fire has broken out in Bandra East, near the railway station.

Western Railway authorities said both the Western Line and the Harbour line are running normally.

They said the tracks have not been impacted by the fire so far, but they are keeping a ‘close watch’ on the developments.

“As of now, the trains are running normally,” a Western Railway spokesperson said.

Fire started at 3:45 PM and was reportedly caused by gas cylinders exploding.

The fire has broken out in the Behrampada slum area that lies adjacent to the railway tracks.

About 17 fire engines are fighting the fire as of now.

The slum is to the east of the Bandra Railway station.

The fire is now confined to a 300 meter by 300 meter area, according to the fire department.

A part of the skywalk leading to the Bandra station has been damaged in the fire and the police are not allowing pedestrians to use the skywalk.

The area is known for illegal and unauthorized constructions, and was also the site of a building collapse last year.

The congested setup also prevents the fire tenders from reaching into the affected area.

Locals claimed that fire engines took 45 minutes to reach the spot.

Municipal authorities were reportedly carrying out a demolition drive in the area when the fire took place. The area is also home to many garment godowns and informal workshops.

Locals expressed anger at the demolition drive.