Residents of Goregaon’s Jay Bhavani building have claimed that it always was a death trap as it lacked essential amenities such as a water connection and fire exits. The only lift in the building was non-functional, but anyway cannot be used in case of fires. For years, residents, some of whom lost their lives in Friday’s fire, had been pleading for help from elected representatives. There are 62 flats in the 7-storey building, and around eight to 10 family members lived in a single room, which measures 225 square feet.

Sanjay Chougule, who lost his daughter in the mishap on Friday, said, “We haven’t had a water connection since 2008. I don’t remember when was the last time we had a functional lift. When the fire brigade came, they might have struggled as there is no fire safety system here. Neither is there any water.”