NEW DELHI, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- An Indian lawmaker from ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Hema Malini Friday blamed population for the deadly blaze in western Mumbai city that killed 14 people including 11 women and injured 20 others.
"It's not that the police are not doing their job. They do a great job, but the population is so high. When Bombay (Mumbai) ends, another city should begin. But the city keeps extending, " Malini told reporters in her response to the deadly fire. "It's uncontrollable, some restrictions should be done on the population first of all."
Malini said each city should have a certain limit on population.
India is the second most populated country in the world with nearly a fifth of the world's population.
Earlier on Friday, a 28-year-old woman celebrating her birthday was killed along with 13 others at a pub on the terrace of a building at the trade house building in Kamala Mills compound in Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.
The massive blaze engulfed the entire building and it took several hours for firefighters to contain the blaze.
Doctors said most of the victims died of asphyxiation
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the tragedy.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered officials to conduct an inquiry into the tragedy.
The Mumbai's civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) suspended five of its officials in connection with the fire. BMC in the recent past had sent a few notices to the joints at the Kamala Mills compound for violation of norms, reports said.
Reports said several news channels which operate from the compound had to shut down broadcast due to damage to their equipment.
