Major fire breaks out in 5-storey building

PNS|Hyderabad

A major fire broke out in a five-storey commercial building in Secunderabad here on Thursday and authorities evacuated residents of the adjoining buildings following the blaze which was brought under control after a seven-hour long operation.

A blanket of thick black smoke engulfed the area for several hours.
No one was injured, and unconfirmed reports said two persons were trapped in the building.

Asked about some reports of two people being stuck there, Telangana Home Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali, who visited the spot, said though it is being said that way, but it was not confirmed.
“Unless we search inside, we can’t say anything,” said officials engaged in the firefighting operation.

Observing that fire personnel were not able to go into the building due to the intensity of the flames, they said even if somebody was stuck, there were no chances of survival in view of the smoke and fire.

As many as 24 vehicles including over a dozen fire-engines were rushed to the spot to extinguish the blaze, officials said.

The fire was brought under control after seven hours of fire-fighting, and efforts were on to douse the blaze which was still continuing on the first floor.

Officials said four people trapped in the building were rescued — three of them were rescued from the terrace of the building using a hydraulic platform, while another was rescued from the fourth floor.

Two fire personnel, who fell ill while dousing the flames, were hospitalised. Power supply was disconnected in the area in the wake of the incident, officials said.