Overview
- A flat in Shah’s residential compound was gutted by fire near her Bandra East home, with no human injuries reported.
- Shah says a spark from a sky-shot firecracker used during nearby election campaigning entered the apartment and ignited the blaze.
- Pets inside the unit were killed, with birds and fish lost while two cats escaped, according to Shah’s account.
- Response timelines differ: Shah describes a 30–45 minute wait and an hour to douse the flames, while officials said the 11th-floor fire was reported at 8:54 pm and brought under control within 10–15 minutes.
- Shah says repeated calls to local fire stations did not connect and she is calling for stricter rules and accountability on fireworks during political canvassing, with gas shut and power cut in the affected building as a safety measure.