A major fire broke out at the iconic R K Studios in Chembur on Saturday afternoon, gutting a major portion of a television show set in its premises. Seven fire engines, five water tankers and an ambulance were rushed to the spot and fire-fighting operations went on for four hours. No one was injured in the incident as the set was vacant at that time.

After fire officials reached the site, the entire roof of the set collapsed with a bang and thereafter the flames spread rapidly. The cause of the fire and the blast is being probed.

There are a total of four stages at the studio. The fire engulfed Stage 1. A major portion of the TV set, put up in this stage, was left gutted, said a source. Chief fire officer P Rahangdale said, “As several inflammable items were stored within the set, the fire spread very fast. We tried to bring it under control as quickly as we could. A major portion of the set was damaged, though.“

The blaze has caused significant damage to shooting and decoration equipment, clothes, imitation jewellery, furniture and the AC duct area in the ground-floor set housed in a one-storey structure. Fire officials said the load-bearing wall structure was being used as a set. Fire officials initially assumed it was a minor blaze. However, when they heard the explosion, additional fire engines were called in. “An explosion took place when the firefighting operation was on. The fire was brought under control by 4.30 pm but it was completely doused by 6.15 pm. Cooling operations wound up at 7.25 pm,“ said an official.

A source from the set said, “No one was present when the set caught fire. We are yet to calculate the cost of damage.“ Harshad Kale, assistant municipal commissioner, M-West Ward, too, said that no shoot was on when the fire erupted. “The cause is yet to be ascertained.“

Actor Rishi Kapoor, whose father founded the studio, tweeted:  “A Studio can be built again but the loss of the irreplaceable memorabilia and costumes of all RK Films,is tragic for all. Fire took it away“. His brother, Randhir Kapoor, who also manages the studio visited the spot around 8 pm.

Govandi police have registered a case of accident and said they waiting for the fire brigade probe. “We will take appropriate action if the fire brigade gives its opinion that it was a case of negligence,“ said Shahji Umap, DCP (Zone VI).