Mumbai: The set of the famous Hindi daily soap ‘Anupama’, located in the Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Goregaon Film City), caught fire on Monday early morning. No injuries were reported. As per the preliminary report, the fire erupted due to a faulty electric system.
According to Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) Officials, the shooting set had fire extinguishers in working condition, which helped to fight the fire, and the blaze did not escalate. However, the staff present on the spot failed to produce the permission and NOC documents to the MFB.
The incident was reported at 6.10 am. The Anupama set is located behind the Marathi Big Boss set, Hathi Gate, Film City Complex, Goregaon East. Four fire engines and four jumbo water tankers were rushed to the spot. The fire was declared Level 1 and was doused at 10.15 am.
The fire was confined to electric wiring and installations; plastic, iron materials and decorative materials; cameras, costumes, lighting system and other equipment in a 5000 sq ft area of Anupama studio.
“The staff said that they were sleeping when they heard the sound of a short circuit. When they opened the door, the fire had started. Preliminarily, it is observed that the fire broke out due to a faulty electrical system. The set had fire extinguishers working. However, the staff failed to produce the documents and said they would produce them later,” said a senior MFB official present on the spot.
Another officer added that the film/serial sets are usually built as temporary structures and do not take NOC from the Fire department, although the MFB says the NOC should be taken for safety purposes, even for temporary constructions.
Meanwhile, activists allege that several constructions (studios) inside the film city complex at Goregaon are illegal as they fall under the Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). Environment activist Stalin D said, “There is no plan for constructions in ESZ as directed by the courts. There is a committee that grants permission without the development plan in place.”
On the other hand, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya raised the issue of unauthorised studios built near Royal Palms in Aarey colony, 1 km away from the Goregaon film city.
“There are at least six shooting sets in the area, which are completely illegal and fall in a no-development zone. Some are 40 to 50 feet tall. The structures were used as cowsheds earlier. However, they were expanded and now used as film sets. The BMC should demolish the illegal structures immediately,” Somaiya said.
Somaiya has also written to BMC’s P-South Assistant Municipal Commissioner to take strict action against the unauthorised film studios in Aarey, encroachments and debris dumping.
Massive Fire Breaks Out In Residential Building Near Mumbai's Marine Lines Area; Visuals SurfaceA minor fire erupted on the sixth floor of the seven-storeyed Neelkanth Niranjan, a residential building near Marine Lines station, on Monday morning. The incident was reported at 10.55 am and fire engines were rushed to the spot immediately. The blaze was doused at 11.18 am, and no injuries were reported.
