25 July,2026 01:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mahavitaran said the incident caused no damage to offices housed in the Prakashgad building. Representational Pic
Smoke billowing from the central air-conditioning system at Mahavitaran's Prakashgad headquarters in Bandra (East) on Friday afternoon triggered the evacuation of the building, prompting a swift response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade.
Officials, however, confirmed that no fire broke out and no injuries or property damage were reported.
According to Mahavitaran, the incident occurred at around 1 pm, when a flash was reported in the control room of the building's central air-conditioning system. The resulting smoke spread through the AC ducts, activating the building's fire alarm system.
As a precaution, all officers and employees were immediately evacuated through public announcements. Staff also disconnected the power supply to the central air-conditioning system and released fire-suppression gas, preventing the situation from escalating into a fire.
Five fire engines from the Mumbai Fire Brigade reached the spot and completed a thorough inspection of all floors within 10 minutes. Fire officials confirmed there was no fire and declared the building safe.
Mahavitaran said the incident caused no damage to offices housed in the Prakashgad building, including those of Mahavitaran and Mahagenco. It also confirmed that no documents, equipment or other property were affected.
In a separate incident, ten residents were safely evacuated after a minor fire broke out in the basement of a residential building in Thane city on Saturday morning, officials said.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred at Gautam House, a two-storey building located near the Naupada Police Station.
According to Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Regional Disaster Management Cell (RDMC) of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), the fire department received a call about the blaze at around 8.10 am.
"A call reporting a minor fire in rubber mats kept in the building's basement was received at around 8:10 am," Tadvi said.
Emergency response teams, including personnel from the fire brigade, RDMC, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and Mahanagar Gas Limited, rushed to the spot.
As a precaution, rescue teams evacuated ten residents from the building to prevent smoke inhalation and ensure their safety in case the fire spread to the upper floors.
"They were rescued to prevent the fire from spreading to the upper floors and to safeguard them from suffering due to smoke and suffocation," Tadvi said.
Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control within about 30 minutes through the joint efforts of the fire brigade and RDMC personnel.
Cooling operations were continuing at the site after the fire was extinguished.
Officials confirmed that no injuries or casualties were reported in the incident.
