Secunderabad Fire: Eight people were killed and several others were injured after a massive fire broke out at an electric scooter showroom in Telangana’s Secunderabad late last night and spread to a hotel on the top floor of a multi-storey building.
Officials said the fire broke out in the electric scooter showroom on the ground floor of the building and soon spread to the hotel Ruby Pride, where at least 25 guests were staying.
He said it appears that all eight people died of suffocation due to the smoke.
“The hotel appears to have 23 rooms on all four floors. The smoke used to pass through the stairs from the bottom to the top floor. Some people who were sleeping on the first and second floors entered the corridor through thick smoke and died due to suffocation,” said CV Anand, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad.
Officials said that the fire brigade rescued several people from the stairs of the crane, while some local people also joined and helped in the rescue operation. The video also showed some people jumping out of hotel windows to escape the fire.
Mr Anand said that the injured have been admitted to various hospitals in the city for treatment and the fire has been brought under control.
Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Chandana Deepti said, “Electric scooters were parked where the fire broke out. We don’t know whether it started due to over-charging and then spread or started somewhere else. It is still established. He is going.” Reuters says.
Officials said the water sprinkler system in the building was not working when the fire broke out – which is now being investigated.
Telangana Home Minister Mohd Mahmood Ali condoled the death and said an inquiry has been ordered to find out the exact cause of the fire.
“Fire brigade teams tried their best to rescue people from the lodge, but some people died due to heavy smoke. We are probing how the incident happened and a case has been registered,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the family members of those killed in the accident and Rs 50,000 each for the injured.
The state government has also announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh each for the families of the victims.
