Tragic Fire Claims Lives Of Senior Couple And One Other In Lokhandwala Complex

A devastating fire in a flat at the upscale Lokhandwala Complex claimed the lives of a senior citizen couple and another individual on Wednesday morning, officials reported.

The blaze erupted around 8 a.m. in a 10th-floor flat of the 14-storey Riya Palace building. Firefighters and rescue teams swiftly arrived at the scene as dark smoke billowed from the apartment. Fortunately, the fire remained contained to the flat, prompting many residents from the same and upper floors to evacuate to the society garden in panic.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) deployed several fire tenders, water tankers, and an ambulance to combat the flames, successfully extinguishing the fire within an hour.

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Tragically, three individuals—identified as 74-year-old Chandraprakash Soni, 74-year-old Kanta Soni, and 42-year-old Pelubeta—were found severely injured and later declared dead upon arrival at Cooper Hospital in Juhu. The relationship between Pelubeta and the elderly couple remains unclear.

Authorities have sent the bodies for autopsy, while an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Preliminary reports suggest that a short circuit may be to blame.

A witness indicated that the victims likely succumbed to the flames and smoke, as they may not have had time to escape the rapidly spreading fire.

The Andheri-Lokhandwala-Oshiwara Citizens Association expressed concern over emergency response times, noting that the narrow roads in the Lokhandwala Complex can hinder fire brigade access. They called for road widening to improve safety and response efforts amid ongoing redevelopment in the area.