Martyrs of Bombay Docks explosion to be remembered on Fire Service Day today

By Dheeraj Fartode

The invention of fire was a major breakthrough in the development of civilization. This is why the primitive people used to worship fire as manifestation of God. So long as fire is under control, it cooks our food and provides warmth in the chilly winter. 

Destroyed ship 'Fort Stikine' at Victoria Docks

But the other side of the story is different. If fire is left untackled an if it is allowed to spread beyond control, it causes much hazard by devastating lives and properties. Keeping fire under control, therefore, has been the primary task of mankind to avoid its devastating effects. 

the greatest fire tragedy in India was the Bombay Docks explosion occurred on April 14, 1944 in a ship called ‘Fort Stikine’ in the Victoria Docks of Bombay (now Mumbai). The ship was carrying a mixed cargo of 9,000 bales of cotton, 1,400 ton of explosives, ammunition, oil barrels, timber scrap iron and 124 gold bars. At Karachi ship took bales of cotton. Prior to shipment loose ginned cotton is compacted into bales under high pressure to reduce the volume of shipment. 

Extreme tropical heat and humidity in the poorly ventilated cargo hold that contained the cotton bales raised the temperature at one or more places in the cotton cargo to the point of spontaneous combustion, which process was encourage by the pressure within the compacted cotton bales; that compaction augmented the absorption and retention of heat. The ship had come to dock before the first wisps of smoke from the mouldering cotton were notices rising from the ventilators. Flames were beginning to appear from the No. 2 cargo hold when the first municipal fire brigade and equipment arrived. The forward section of the ship’s hull, which contained the fire and 611 tons of explosives, displayed a bright cherry-red glow. A series of severe explosions occurred, destroying around 14 ships. That day 336 people died and 1,040 were injured. The explosion were recorded over 1000 miles away. 

Destroyed ship 'Fort Stikine' at Victoria Docks Mumbai in 1944. 

The total property loss according to the then calculation was approximately 100 crore. This was the worst explosion in the history of fire services in India which destroyed buildings in over 100 acres of Bombay Docks area. The death toll in the catastrophe was estimated at about 500, including 66 gallant officers and men of the Bombay Fire Brigade. Those gallant officers and men laid down their lives in the cause of safety, welfare and prosperity of the community. After this great tragedy training of fire personnel at the National Fire Service College, Nagpur and other similar institution in the country and abroad has been organised.

To give due recognition to fire services, the Government declared April 14th as Fire Service Day and later on Fire Service Week to be observed nation-wide every year. This year, Fire Service Week beginning from 14th to 20th April commemorates the gallant firemen who scarified their lives while combating fire disasters.

To make the public aware o the necessity of minimising losses from fire which have been mounting over the years the country observe Fire Service Week. The theme for this year is ‘Fire Prevention is the Best Insurance’. 

Director of NFSC to pay tribute to martyrs

A special programme is organsied at National Fire Service College (NFSC), Nagpur at college premises to pay tribute to fire department’s martyrs. Director of NFSC S Shamim, Assistant Director D K Shaha and staff will pay tribute at 8 am.