Mumbai Churchgate Income Tax Office Fire: Blaze Breaks Out at Aayakar Bhavan

A Mumbai Churchgate Income Tax Office fire broke out in the basement of Aayakar Bhavan on Maharshi Karve Road on Monday afternoon, prompting a major response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade and the evacuation of people from the building.

The fire was reported to the Mumbai Fire Brigade at around 2:01 pm on August 17. The incident was initially classified as a Level-I fire at approximately 2:10 pm.

Aayakar Bhavan is a basement-plus-ground-plus-seven-storey building located in the Churchgate area of south Mumbai. According to the latest information available during the firefighting operation, the blaze remained confined to the basement. Firefighters were simultaneously working to evacuate people who were on the upper floors of the building.

The location is an important Income Tax Department office in Mumbai. Official records identify Aayakar Bhavan on M.K. Road in Churchgate as an Income Tax Department facility, making the incident significant from both a public-safety and administrative perspective.

The Mumbai Fire Brigade deployed senior officers and multiple firefighting units to tackle the blaze. The response included fire engines, jet units and other specialised equipment, while police personnel, BEST, a 108 ambulance and BMC ward staff were also mobilised at the site.

The immediate priority was to control the fire and ensure that employees and other people inside the building could leave safely. Evacuation efforts were underway from the upper floors as firefighters dealt with the situation in the basement.

There were no injuries reported in the initial updates available after the incident was reported. Further details about the extent of damage and the circumstances that led to the fire were awaited.

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The incident also highlights the challenges involved in responding to fires in occupied multi-storey commercial and government buildings, particularly when the fire originates in a basement where smoke can quickly affect access and evacuation routes.

Authorities are expected to assess the building after the firefighting operation is completed and determine the cause of the blaze. Any impact on office operations, records or equipment will become clearer once officials complete their inspection.

For now, the focus remains on ensuring that the fire is fully brought under control and that everyone inside the Income Tax Office building is accounted for safely.