No record of Kosmic fire

In what could have been another Hotel Kinara-like fire accident that took eight lives last year, another fire broke out at Kosmic Sea Lounge hotel on Kalpana Chawla Marg, Borivali on Monday morning. No loss of life or injuries were reported. What started as a small fire was reported at 11 am and the fire brigade pressed four fire engines and water tanker to the spot.

Sources from the police said, “Based on primary investigation, the cause of the fire appears to be a short circuit. Had the fire brigade been delayed, the entire building would have been in flames.” Despite the massive scale of the fire, neither the disaster management department of the BMC nor the fire control room have a record of the fire.

The hotel is housed in a housing society called Wind Sea apartments and residents claim they have been opposing the ‘resto-bar’ in their apartment since it started in 2011. Even though the hotel has all licenses in place for serving liquor and hookah, the residents claim that an NOC was not obtained from them before starting the business, which is mandatory for bars in residential areas.

Ex-mayor and corporator Shubha Raul, who was also present at the spot said, “There is a school not less than 100 meters away from the hotel, yet liquor licenses was given. The ward office has overlooked very important aspects of the rules before giving the hotel necessary clearances.”

An official from the excise department confirmed that the hotel has all clearances, even though it has flouted some norms and has housed several flammable items haphazardly in their space. Despite repeated attempts at contacting assistant commissioner of R (North) ward, Vijay Kamble, he refused to comment on the subject.