26 December,2025 07:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish Vaktania
Security guard Mithu Jha (left) and security supervisor Parvesh Shaikh, who tackled the fire until the fire brigade arrived
Two security personnel saved scores of lives after a fire broke out in a 23-storey residential building, Sorrento Tower, in Andheri West on Thursday morning. The high-rise is home to around 200 residents. The blaze originated in electrical wiring in the passage area of the 12th floor, in front of a flat owned by actor Pushkar Jog, and spread to the 16th floor via a duct.
Sorrento Tower, the high-rise where the fire broke out on Thursday, in Andheri West. PICS/SHIRISH VAKTANIA
Fortunately, the fire alarm system was activated in time, and security guards rushed to the 12th floor and immediately brought the fire under control with the help of around 38 fire extinguishers. Security guard Mithu Jha and security supervisor Parvesh Shaikh, in particular, emerged as the real heroes, as they managed to contain the fire until the Mumbai Fire Brigade arrived at the spot.
Pushkar Jog, actor and resident of Sorrento Tower
Speaking with mid-day, Jog hailed the security guards as real-life heroes and said every resident was safe because of their timely action. "In the morning, a message was posted in our society's WhatsApp group about a fire breaking out. I was at home on the 20th floor with my family. I also have a flat on the 12th floor where renovation work is going on. The fire spread to the upper floors, trapping residents, but thanks to the security guards, who rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control, we are safe and sound." He added, "The smoke was very dense, but the security guards used multiple fire extinguishers and managed to save all of us. We are truly thankful to them."
Security guard Mithu Jha (left) and security supervisor Parvesh Shaikh, who contained the fire until the fire brigade arrived (right) The spot, in the passage of the 12th floor of Sorrento Tower, where the blaze broke out on Thursday morning. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Shaikh said, "In the morning, we were carrying out routine entry checks at the society gate when the fire alarm suddenly went off. We immediately rushed to the upper floors. On inspection, we found that the fire had broken out on the 12th floor in the passage area and had spread through the duct up to the 16th floor. By the time the fire brigade arrived, the fire was largely under control, and they completely extinguished it." "Most of the residents had gathered on the 16th floor in the refuge area and were safely rescued by the fire brigade team," Shaikh added.
Goregaon Fire Brigade Fire Officer Yogesh Mahajan said, "After receiving information about the blaze, we rushed to the spot with four fire engines. We found it was level -1 fire. The firefighting system of the society was working. We witnessed security guards using fire extinguishers. We also used the water from the society to extinguish the blaze. Many residents had gone to the terrace, and some were in their flats. We checked each floor after the fire was put out."
