Constable Shinde's heroic act of carrying a woman on his shoulder went viral on social media. In an interview to a TV channel he said, "It's nice to be acknowledged on the first day of the year, but I am sad that those 14 people couldn't be saved."



The fire which started at the rooftop pub 1 Above later spread to Mojo's Bistro next door. In all 11 girls were killed, including birthday girl Khushboo Mehta.

Most of the suffocated bodies of the women were found piled up near the women's restroom. Eyewitnesses claim that the pub and cafe turned into a stampede-like situation. Firemen claimed that there were no fire extinguishers and a safe exit route.

Constable Shinde got a message about the fire at around 12:30 am, following which he and few of his colleagues rushed to the spot. Describing, the situation he said, "There were many ambulances, fire engines and police cars. People were screaming and crying for help. Their loved ones were trapped. A huge fire on the terrace was visible from a distance. I saw that the firemen were using the exit stairs to go to the terrace and decided to join them."

On entering the pub, Constable Shinde was not able to see anything as there was thick black smoke all over. He said that it was a challenge to breathe or to keep his eyes open, but he couldn't have gone back. "The fire team broke open the exit door and tried to control the fire. We spotted a few women near the washroom and tried to bring them down one by one. As there were no stretchers, we had to carry them on our shoulders," Mr Shinde added.

Speaking about the viral photograph he said that it was not just him but a number of firemen who helped him too. He said that it was a team effort. Just like him, Mahesh and Suraj Giri, who were working in the server room of a media house in the next building, are believed to have saved over 50 people.

According to the investigating team, the pubs didn't follow safety regulations making it impossible for people to make a safe exit.

Following this incident, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered unauthorised structures at more than 300 sites in the city to be shut and five officials of Mumbai's civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were suspended on the same day.