Bandra’s Link Square Mall Faces Long Wait For Reopening After Fire Guts It

The Link Square Mall in Bandra West, badly damaged by a massive fire on Tuesday, will not reopen anytime soon, as per a mid-day report. Civic and police officials confirmed on Wednesday that cooling operations are still underway. After this, a private agency will conduct a full structural audit. Only if the building is found safe and necessary repairs are completed, will the mall be allowed to reopen-a process that may take weeks or even months.

On Wednesday afternoon, passers-by continued to gather near the charred remains of the mall. The blackened building has attracted attention, with many locals visiting the site out of concern and sympathy for those affected. Vendors and shopkeepers nearby offered moral support, saying they felt it was important to stand with the victims of the fire.

Photo Credit: pti

Many shopkeepers said they found out about the fire early in the morning through messages and photos on WhatsApp. While Linking Road remained busy with shoppers on Wednesday, the mood was sombre. Police had cordoned off the area around the mall, with barricades and several fire trucks still in place. Firefighters remained on-site, monitoring the situation.

According to the same report, locals such as Mohammed S., a footwear shop owner, came to show solidarity. "I am here to support those who have lost so much," he said. Other shopkeepers nearby have chosen to keep their stores shut for a few days out of respect.

The scene was marked by visible damage-burnt jeans and shoes hanging from the edge of the building, and exposed wires from the structure. A Bandra resident, Veena V., who regularly visited the mall, said, "This is not the time to think about inconvenience. It's a time to think about those who have suffered."

Some shop owners noted that stores inside sold high-end garments and kept cash in their premises-all likely lost. One businessman named Merchant said his own garment shop had been destroyed and he did not know what would happen next.

Commuters and drivers passing by, including autorickshaw drivers, shared their shock. One said the smoke from the fire was so thick that many mistook it for a thunderstorm. "It was that dense," he said.

Zeeshan Siddique, a former MLA whose family owns the mall, visited the site and confirmed that the cooling process should end soon. "Once we are allowed in, we will assess the full damage," he said. When asked if the mall might be demolished, he said firmly, "This mall will come up again." He also shared that the mall had opened in 2009 and had always done well.

Though the smoke has cleared, for many, the emotional impact and memories of the fire will linger.