MUMBAI: On Monday mid morning around 11.52am, the Fire Control Room received information that a major fire had broken out in the shanties of Malad's slum area in Mumbai. There was one fatality of the fire and approximately 100 shanties were gutted in the raging blaze. As soon as the message was relayed, fire tenders from Malad Fire Station reached the spot to extinguish the fire.

As per the report, the flames erupted inside the slums, following which fire engines and jumbo tankers were pressed into service. However, when the fire crew got there, they discovered that a 'Level 2' fire had broken out in the shanties of a slum in Malad's Anand Nagar area.

BMC later informed that the fire had reached Level 3. "The fire in Anand nagar, Appa pada, Malad East has reached Level 3. There have been explosions in 15-20 LPG cylinders and 10 lines of 12 motor pumps are in operation at the spot. One dead body has been recovered and was sent to hospital, inquiry of any injured and missing persons is in progress," said BMC. 

Smoke could be seen billowing out of the area from several kilometres away. According to the official, fire tenders, jumbo water tankers and other equipment were engaged in controlling the blaze. An ambulance was also stationed at the site.

Meanwhile, no details were immediately available on the cause of the fire.