Fire damages three homes after aerial firecrackers burst at Shiv Sena (UBT) campaign rally in Mumbai's Lower Parel

Four fire engines helped bring the blaze in the Govardhan Building under control. Representation Pic

A fire broke out during a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election campaign rally in Lower Parel on Saturday evening after two party workers allegedly burst aerial firecrackers in violation of permission conditions, damaging parts of three residential homes, police said.

The incident occurred around 6.30 pm when a campaign rally of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Kishori Kishor Pednekar was passing by the Govardhan Building on NM Joshi Marg in central Mumbai. The rally, organised by Ramchandra Krishna Yesade, had been granted prior permission with written conditions and was attended by around 100 to 150 workers, police said.

According to the complaint filed by a police constable deployed on election bandobast duty, the rally reached the public road outside Govardhan Building while the candidate entered the premises for door-to-door campaigning. At that time, two workers allegedly began bursting aerial firecrackers on the road. Despite repeated instructions from police personnel to stop the activity, the fireworks allegedly continued.

Police identified the two workers as Soham Ravindra Sarvankar, 21, and Omsai Vikram Pansare, 20. Moments later, sparks from the firecrackers allegedly ignited paper items near the window of a fifth-floor flat, room no. 501, in the A wing of Govardhan Building, resulting in a fire. The flames allegedly spread to the rooftops of three adjoining rooms - 112, 113, and 114 - in nearby Irani Chawl, causing damage to the houses. Fire brigade officials were immediately alerted, and four fire engines rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. No injuries were reported, police said.

Police said the rally organiser was also told to stop the bursting of firecrackers, but allegedly ignored the directions. Based on the complaint, a case has been registered against Yesade, Sarvankar and Pansare for alleged violation of permission conditions, negligence, and causing damage under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 37 of the Maharashtra Police Act. Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain individual roles and responsibilities.

Blaze at CM rally

Fireworks set off as part of CM Devendra Fadnavis's roadshow in Bosari (for the Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body poll) sparked a fire in a building there on Sunday, around 7 pm. Sparks from the firecrackers reached a mobile tower installed on the rooftop of the building, causing it to catch fire. Eyewitnesses said flames rose rapidly, creating fear and confusion among residents and those attending the rally, but it was brought under control swiftly. No casualties were reported, according to fire officials.

- Archana Dahiwal