Thousands homeless in Mumbai fire

Published April 18, 2002

MUMBAI, April 17: A blaze gutted part of a teeming slum here on Wednesday, leaving several thousand people homeless but miraculously injuring only two.

Exploding cooking gas cylinders helped spread the early morning fire that cut an S-shaped swathe through Behrampada, one of the biggest slum districts that dot Mumbai, destroying hundreds of shanty dwellings.

Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours to bring it under control but said some parts of Behrampada were still smouldering.

Firefighters had feared people were trapped inside the huts made of easily flammable wood, cloth and paper and covered with plastic or tin sheeting.—Reuter

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...