Divyanka Tripathi, Vivek Dahiya Escape Mumbai Fire with Twins
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In a harrowing incident that cast a somber shadow over festive celebrations, popular television stars Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya narrowly escaped a major residential blaze along with their infant twin boys, extended family members, and domestic staff in Mumbai. The fire erupted on the eve of Diwali—a night that also marked Vivek’s birthday—inside their high-rise residential complex, Runwal Tower in Andheri West. While the couple and their children evacuated the premises without physical injury after detecting the danger early, the disaster claimed the life of the building's beloved 56-year-old security guard, Dhanpat Mahatu. Taking to social media days after taking emergency refuge at a friend's residence, an emotional Divyanka penned a moving tribute to the deceased staff member, expressing profound sorrow over the tragic loss of a dependable presence who had welcomed their newborn twins into the world with heartfelt blessings.
A Narrow Escape on Diwali Eve: How Unplanned Delays Averted Disaster
The terrifying ordeal unfolded late Saturday evening, November 7, just hours before the commencement of nationwide Diwali celebrations. According to reports from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, emergency response units were alerted at approximately 9:50 PM when flames broke out in a 17th-floor apartment of C Wing in Runwal Tower. Initial investigations by municipal fire officers indicated that an unattended ceremonial oil lamp (diya) used during pre-festive Lakshmi puja likely triggered the blaze, sending thick plumes of toxic smoke into upper-floor lobbies and corridors.
Divyanka revealed that a series of unexpected domestic delays ultimately placed her family in a position to recognize the escalating emergency:
Postponed Evening Plans: The couple had originally arranged to step out to celebrate Vivek's birthday dinner and festive get-togethers. However, minor domestic hold-ups repeatedly postponed their departure from the apartment.
Early Detection and Timely Alert: Because the family remained inside the flat when smoke began infiltrating the ventilation shafts and corridors, they immediately spotted the warning signs before exits became entirely impassable.
Calm Evacuation of Infants: Divyanka and Vivek quickly mobilized their household, gathering their five-month-old twin sons, Daivik and Vaidvik, along with visiting family members and domestic staff, successfully navigating the stairwell to safety on ground level.
Reflecting on the twist of fate, Divyanka shared on Instagram: "On the night before Diwali and Viv’s birthday, a devastating fire broke out in our building. We had plans to step out that evening, but somehow, our plans kept getting delayed. We were home when the mishap occurred, which allowed us to spot the danger in time and evacuate with our babies, family and staff."
Heartbreak Amid Safety: The Tragic Demise of Guard Dhanpat Mahatu
While the actors initially believed they had walked away from the incident facing only emotional trauma and property disruption, relief quickly turned to deep shock and sorrow upon learning of the human cost of the blaze. Longtime security guard Dhanpat Mahatu, aged 56, lost his life after being overcome by dense, suffocating smoke inside the upper-floor elevator lobby.
Fire officials and building residents provided details regarding the fatal sequence of events:
The Elevator Trap: According to Ravindra Ambulgekar, Chief Fire Officer of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mahatu appeared to have attempted to operate or access the elevator amid panic rather than utilizing the emergency staircase as toxic smoke surged through the floor.
Critical Rescue and Hospitalization: Firefighters braved zero-visibility conditions using the main staircase to rescue an unconscious Mahatu from the lift lobby. He was rushed first to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and subsequently transferred to Cooper Hospital, where attending medical personnel declared him dead at around 2:00 AM on Sunday due to severe smoke inhalation and asphyxiation.
A Nine-Year Fixture: Residents shared that Mahatu had served the housing society faithfully for over nine years, recognized by everyone across the towers for his soft-spoken demeanor, vigilance, and warm interactions with resident families.
Divyanka’s Moving Tribute: Remembering 'Dhanpat Uncle'
The news of Mahatu's passing left Divyanka and Vivek shattered as they sheltered at a close friend’s home awaiting clearance from municipal building authorities. In an extensive, heartfelt eulogy shared across her social media handles, Divyanka underscored that security guards and domestic support staff form an indispensable, intimate part of everyday household lives, urging society never to take their dedication for granted.
Expressing the deep emotional void left behind, Divyanka wrote:
A Cherished Daily Bond: "Some losses leave behind a silence that never quite goes away. Dhanpat Uncle, you were never just the guard of our building. You were part of our everyday lives, someone we trusted, someone we had imagined in our children's tomorrow."
Welcoming Newborn Twins: She fondly recounted how Mahatu was among the very first people stationed at the residential entrance to shower blessings on their twin sons, Daivik and Vaidvik, when the couple brought them home from the maternity hospital earlier this year.
Dimmed Diwali Illuminations: "The fire dimmed the lights of our home that Diwali, but the loss of a precious life left a darkness in our hearts that no amount of light can undo."
A Promise for the Future: Divyanka concluded her note with a solemn vow to her growing boys: "When our boys are old enough, we will tell them about the kind man who welcomed them home with his blessings, who was indispensable in our everyday life and that—we should never take anyone’s presence for granted. May your soul rest in peace."
Aftermath at Runwal Tower: Slow Return to Utility Restoration
Following hours of coordinated firefighting operations, emergency teams brought the blaze under control, confirming that the internal automated fire suppression systems within C Wing functioned effectively to prevent the flames from leaping into adjacent apartments. However, the emotional trauma and infrastructure disruptions lingered well past Diwali day.
Civic teams and private utility technicians conducted rigorous safety audits before restoring power lines, piped natural gas connections, and elevator banks over the following 48 hours. Yet, as Divyanka remarked, the return of physical amenities did little to lift the heavy grief hanging over the residential community, where neighbors united to mourn the loss of an everyday hero who guarded their homes.
The couple, who tied the knot in a traditional ceremony in Bhopal on July 8, 2016, after falling in love on the sets of the hit daily soap Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, welcomed their twin sons on May 26, 2026. While their miraculous escape with their five-month-old babies brings immense relief to their vast legion of fans, their tribute to Dhanpat Mahatu stands as a touching reminder of the invisible frontline workers who protect urban high-rises every day.
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