The Beirut-like explosion that shook Bombay in 1944
Team Udayavani, Aug 9, 2020, 9:38 AM IST
Earlier this week, the Beirut explosion which killed at least 150 people and injured around 5,000 shook the world.
Around 76 years ago, a similar incident took place in Mumbai on 14 April 1944, which killed over 700 people, injured 2,500 others. Over 66 firefighters in the city too lost their lives trying to put out the deadly fire. It is known as the S.S Fort Stikine explosion
What happened?
According to History, The Fort Stikine was a Canadian-built steamship weighing 8,000 tons. It left Birkenhead, England, on February 24 and stopped in Karachi, Pakistan, before docking at Bombay. The ship was carrying hundreds of cotton bales, gold bullion and, most notably, 300 tons of trinitrotoluene, better known as TNT or dynamite. The cotton was stored one level below the dynamite, despite the fact that cotton bales were prone to combustion.
As there was smoke coming from the cotton bales, firefighters were sent to douse the fire. Around 60 firefighters tried to put out fire with hoses till afternoon. But, the TNT was still not unloaded during the firefighting efforts
At around 4.00 pm, TNT was ignited resulting explosion that rocked the bay area. The force of the blast actually lifted a nearby 4,000-ton ship from the bay onto land. Thirteen ships around the Stikine were destroyed, as were hundreds of homes in the vicinity of the docks.
Today, there is a memorial outside the Mumbai Fire Brigade headquarters and every year, April 14 is observed as Fire Brigade Day in the city
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Higgs boson: 10 years after its discovery, why this particle could unlock new physics beyond the standard model
Watching only English-language movies? Don’t miss out other best films out there!
The worst hidden travel fees and how to avoid them
Karavali region might witness Richter 5 scale earthquakes in future, say experts
The iPhone turns 15: A look at the past (and future) of one of the 21st century’s most influential devices
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Malpe: Anchored boat washed away at sea
NIA to probe killing of chemist in Amravati in Maharashtra
Mild tremors felt again in Dakshina Kannada
Cong warns of legal action against BJP leaders for sharing ‘misleading’ Rahul video, demands apology
Alt News parent company Pravda Media received Rs 2 lakh from foreign countries: Police