Now Reading: Vile Parle fire: domestic help dies shielding toddler, both asphyxiated
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Vile Parle fire: domestic help dies shielding toddler, both asphyxiated
Vile Parle fire: domestic help dies shielding toddler, both asphyxiated
A fire in a flat on the 11th floor of Shanta Bhuvan in Vile Parle killed two people on Tuesday: domestic help Ankita Chhetri and one-year-old Abir Batavia. Rescuers found Abir lying…
The Story in Brief
A fire in a flat on the 11th floor of Shanta Bhuvan in Vile Parle killed two people on Tuesday: domestic help Ankita Chhetri and one-year-old Abir Batavia. Rescuers found Abir lying on Chhetri’s chest in the bathroom; both were unconscious. CPR failed, and they were declared dead at Nanavati Hospital. Postmortem at Cooper Hospital showed death by asphyxiation with no burn injuries.
Four members of the Batavia family, including developer Hiren Batavia, were discharged after observation. A fireman and a watchman treated for minor injuries were also discharged. Santacruz police registered a case of accidental death. Chhetri’s postmortem remains pending as her family in West Bengal has yet to give consent.
The Indian Opinion
This tragedy will inevitably fuel two predictable narratives: one blaming building safety norms, another accusing employers of exploiting domestic help. Neither fits here. Chhetri’s act was one of extraordinary courage, not coercion. The real test is whether Mumbai’s fire audits, routinely flouted in older buildings, finally get enforced. Until then, every high-rise fire will carry the same question: who else is sleeping without an escape plan?
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
