Fire at Mumbai’s Brooklyn Building: Woman, 2 pets die after dogs 'lead' her downstairs into smoke; husband critical, 6 others injured

MUMBAI: A 34-year-old woman, Abhina Mudgal Sanjanvala, and her 2 pet dogs died of suffocation caused by smoke inhalation after a fire erupted in a first-floor flat of the ground-plus-seven storey Brooklyn housing society near Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, in the wee hours of Saturday. Six others were hospitalised, including a 3-year-old child and 10-day-old infant.
Abhina's husband Kartik Sanjanvala, 40, was admitted to Cooper Hospital ICU after choking from the smoke.

This is the sixth major fire in Andheri Lokhandwala in recent months, with residents clamouring to commission the fire station that is planned at nearby Chitrakoot Ground since the last 35 years.
Abhina lived on the sixth floor with Kartik and two dogs. In a tragic explanation, residents said it was her dogs that likely dragged her down the stairs although she had been instructed to go up to the terrace above her flat.
A fire broke out in a first-floor flat of Brooklyn housing society near Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, in the wee hours of Saturday, claiming the lives of sixth-floor resident Abhina Mudgal Sanjanvala (34), and her two pet dogs. All three died of suffocation caused by smoke inhalation.
In a tragic explanation, residents said it was her dogs that likely dragged her down the stairs although she had been instructed to go up to the terrace above her flat. "It is a dog's instinct to go down, especially the breed she owned, which would even drag her forward on their evening walks, causing her to virtually run behind them on the leash," said a resident.
But chief fire officer Ravindra Ambulgekar said that some residents may have panicked and tried to rush down. "While coming down, they got affected by the smoke," he explained.
Fire brigade officials said that they received a distress call at 2.39am about the blaze in Brooklyn building in Ashok Academy School Lane. The flames were confined to Flat 104 of the ground-plus-seven storey structure. The inferno burnt the electrical wiring, AC units, wooden furniture, documents, and other household items. It was brought under control by 5.30am.
Society members expressed anger with the fire brigade for their alleged delayed arrival. "The helpline was not answering calls at night. The phone kept connecting to the IVRS system. They took 35-40 minutes to come — in fact they only arrived after we persuaded the local police to call them. When they came, they halted for long minutes near Lokhandwala Circle, searching for our building although we were flashing our torchlights, and police were waving frantically at them," said a building resident.
None of the residents suffered burn injuries, but seven people were affected by smoke inhalation. They were taken to hospitals in private vehicles and an ‘108' ambulance. While Abhina passed away in Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, Aparna Gupta (41), Daya Gupta (21), Rihan Gupta (3) and Pradyumna Gupta, a 10-day-old infant are admitted in the ICU there. Abhina's husband is in the ICu at Cooper Hospital, while Polam Gupta (40) was treated at Trauma Hospital and later discharged.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. But preliminary investigations suspect a short-circuit in the AC unit of the Wadias' flat. TOI saw that the AC unit was burnt with soot stains lining the wall. As the fire was in the next bedroom, flat owner Chhaya Wadia was unaware of it. She was rescued without harm.
Deputy chief fire officer Deepak Ghosh said the family was alerted about the AC smoke by neighbours. "The blaze started from the bedroom. One of the residents tried to use a fire extinguisher too," said Ghosh. "Some other residents who rushed towards the terrace found it locked." Residents told TOI they broke the terrace door and saved themselves.