India, Nov. 9 -- The death of a liftman in the fire at Runwal Tower has once again brought into focus the absence of a dedicated fire station in the Versova-Lokhandwala-Oshiwara belt. With residents alleging that it took the Mumbai Fire Brigade 30 to 45 minutes to reach the high-rise, the BMC's move to delete an existing reservation for a fire station in Versova and its tardiness in constructing a proposed fire station at Chitrakoot Grounds is once more in the spotlight.

Residents of the 33-storey towers at Runwal Tower said the fire brigade's response was delayed by difficulties in locating the building, traffic and the inability of the fire tenders and ladder to reach the affected apartment on the 17th floor of C wing. "Eventually, the...