Report highlights failures in Mumbai fire response
An inquiry commissioned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has found that the firefighting system at Link Square Mall in Bandra West, Mumbai, was not fit for purpose when a fire broke out on 29 April 2025.
As reported by the Times of India, the internal investigation found that the mall used a manual firefighting system, which proved inaccessible during the incident due to the fire’s origin in the basement.
The investigation raised concerns over the response by Mumbai Fire Brigade and recommended a further inquiry into the timeline of their arrival.
It also recommended action against the agency responsible for certifying the mall’s fire safety compliance.
Manual system hindered emergency activation
The BMC’s report stated that the fire protection system in the mall was manual and could not be activated promptly due to fire conditions in the basement.
This delay prevented timely suppression efforts, with the fire spreading through multiple levels of the shopping centre over 21 hours.
A BMC official said: “According to the fire brigade’s mandate, a fire safety audit must be performed by a licensed fire safety agency.
“The agency then issues a compliance certificate confirming that the fire safety measures are operational and meet the prescribed standards.
“Failure to submit Form B or maintain functional fire safety equipment can result in penalties, including fines and imprisonment ranging from six months to three years.
“The agency that audited the mall should have flagged this issue. It could have at least helped mitigate the damage.”
Call for accountability and further audit
The investigation, led by joint municipal commissioner Gangatharan D, included an on-site review and timeline analysis of the fire’s development.
Officials confirmed the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the basement.
Gangatharan D said: “The cause of the fire was a short circuit which began from the basement area. But we have asked the fire brigade to conduct a detailed inquiry into whether there was a delayed response.”
Although no structural violations or injuries were recorded, the report advised a full structural safety audit to determine whether the damage compromised the building’s integrity.
Previous inspections show wider safety issues
The call for the inquiry followed a request by Bandra West MLA and minister Ashish Shelar, who contacted the BMC commissioner on the day of the incident and asked for a comprehensive investigation.
Former MLA Zeeshan Siddique also raised concerns about the timing of the fire brigade’s response on the day of the fire.
According to the Times of India, between November 2021 and April 2022, Mumbai Fire Brigade inspected 329 buildings and issued fire safety violation notices to 151 of them.
Frequent non-compliances included disabled alarm systems, blocked stairwells and unmaintained suppression systems.
Link Square Mall fire response under investigation: Summary
The Times of India reported that the BMC has completed an inquiry into the Link Square Mall fire in Mumbai.
The report found that the mall used a manual firefighting system.
The fire began in the basement and continued for over 21 hours.
Officials said the fire brigade’s access to the system was blocked by smoke and fire.
The BMC recommended action against the agency responsible for fire safety certification.
Officials requested a further investigation into the fire brigade’s response timeline.
The report also recommended a structural safety audit of the building.
No legal violations were found concerning the structure of the mall.
The inquiry followed a request from MLA Ashish Shelar.
Former MLA Zeeshan Siddique raised concerns about the fire brigade’s response time.
Mumbai Fire Brigade records show widespread non-compliance in recent building inspections.
Between November 2021 and April 2022, 329 buildings were inspected.
Of those, 151 received notices for safety violations.