Navi Mumbai Tragedy: Four of a Family, Including 6-Year-Old Girl, Killed in Raheja Residency Fire; 10 Injured

Navi Mumbai:
A late-night blaze at Raheja Residency Society in Navi Mumbai’s Mahape area claimed the lives of four members of a family, including a six-year-old girl, and left 10 others injured, after flames and thick smoke engulfed multiple floors of the residential building.

The fire, which broke out shortly after 12:40 am on Monday night, spread rapidly from the 10th floor to the 11th and 12th floors, trapping several residents inside. Firefighters from the Navi Mumbai Fire Brigade (NMFB) battled the flames for nearly four hours before bringing it under control by 4:30 am.

Victims Identified

The deceased have been identified as six-year-old Vedika Balakrishnan, her parents Sundar Balakrishnan (44) and Pooja Rajan (39), and her grandmother Kamla Jain (84).

According to officials, Vedika and her parents were in their 10th-floor apartment when the fire began, while her grandmother was on the 12th floor. All four reportedly succumbed to smoke inhalation before rescuers could reach them.

An NMFB official said, “When our team arrived, the entire corridor from the 10th to the 12th floor was filled with thick, toxic smoke. The family had no time to escape. The fire spread quickly through the air-conditioning ducts and wiring systems.”

Injured Residents and Rescue Efforts

Ten other residents sustained serious smoke inhalation injuries and were rushed to Fortis Hospital and Hiranandani Hospital for treatment. They were later shifted to other hospitals for specialized care.

The injured include: Manabendra Ghosh (69), Mallika Ghosh (58), Ritika Ghosh (39), Bhavana Jain (49), Krish Jain (21), Mahavir Jain (51), Nirmal Jain (53), Mehul Jain (32), Damayanti Agarwal (80), and Sumanti John Topno (18).

A hospital official shared that most patients were treated for smoke-induced breathing issues and minor burns, and remain under medical observation.

Scenes of Chaos and Grief

Residents described scenes of panic as smoke filled the corridors within minutes. “From the 12th floor down to the ninth, the smoke got everywhere,” said a security guard on duty that night. “People were screaming for help. We couldn’t see anything inside. The carbon dust has now settled across the halls and flats. It’s still not safe to enter.”

Neighbours stood helplessly in the building compound as firefighters worked through the night. Many were later seen consoling each other, mourning the death of Vedika — a cheerful child known to everyone in the complex.

Cause of the Fire

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated from an air-conditioner unit on the 10th floor that had been running for a long time and may have short-circuited. The flames are believed to have spread through AC ducts and electrical wiring, rapidly reaching upper floors.

An NMFB official stated, “We suspect an electrical short-circuit in the AC unit was the trigger. A detailed inspection will be conducted to confirm the exact cause.”

Building Declared Unsafe

Following the incident, residents of B Block have been asked to vacate their homes. The interiors are now covered in thick soot, smoke residue, and stagnant water used during firefighting operations.

Authorities have disconnected water and electricity as a safety precaution, and the building will remain sealed until thorough cleaning, repairs, and safety inspections are completed.

“It’s not safe to go in yet,” a guard added. “Doors are open, people have left everything behind — clothes, furniture, even passports. Everyone has been asked to move to temporary housing.”

Hospital Updates

Doctors at Fortis Hospital confirmed that five patients were brought in early morning with smoke-related injuries. After receiving preliminary treatment, most were transferred to other hospitals, including Apollo Hospital in Belapur, for further care.

A hospital staff member said, “We are still compiling details about the injuries. Some patients have been discharged, while others remain under observation. Thankfully, no additional fatalities have been reported so far.”

Authorities Begin Probe

The Navi Mumbai Fire Brigade and CIDCO officials are expected to conduct a site inspection within the next two days to determine whether the building’s firefighting systems — sprinklers, alarms, and extinguishers — were operational at the time of the incident.

Investigators will also review maintenance records and whether electrical safety audits were recently carried out by the housing society.

A Tragic Reminder

This heartbreaking incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety preparedness in high-rise buildings across Navi Mumbai and other urban areas.

For the families of those lost — especially little Vedika, who never got a chance to grow up — the tragedy serves as a painful reminder of how quickly negligence and delay can turn ordinary nights into lifelong nightmares.