New Delhi: The death toll in a massive fire that broke out at an electric scooter showroom at Secunderabad on Monday night consumed eight lives, leaving six people injured in the incident. The fire broke out at the electric scooter recharging unit in the basement of the building closer to the passport office and spread to the staircase and four floors of the hotel above it.
"Death toll in the fire incident rises to 8," said Chandana Deepti, DCP, North Zone, Hyderabad, according to news agency ANI.
The short circuit is suspected to be the reason behind the fire that started in the Ruby Electric Vehicle showroom in the basement of the building Ruby Hotel, according to ABP News sources. The cause of the fire incident is still being investigated.
Around 25-30 guests were trapped in the fire while many tried to jump out of the building to save their lives and got injured, according to ABP News.
"The fire broke out in an electric scooter recharging unit on the ground floor, smoke from which overpowered the people staying on first and second floors. The remaining people jumped from the building and were rescued by locals. They were rushed to the hospital, fire tenders on the spot," said Hyderabad Commissioner CV Anand.
Locals also tried to rescue people trapped in the building. "Remaining people jumped from the building and were rescued by locals. They were rushed to the hospital, fire tenders on the spot. All the occupants seem to be from other states," added Anand.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased, and Rs 50,000 would be paid to the injured.
"Saddened by the loss of lives due to a fire in Secunderabad, Telangana. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be paid to the next of kin of each deceased. Rs 50,000 would be paid to the injured," said PM Narendra Modi
"It is a very unfortunate incident. Fire brigade teams tried their best to rescue people from the lodge but due to heavy smoke, some people died. Some people were rescued from the lodge. We are probing how the incident happened," Telangana home minister Mohd Mahmood Ali told ANI.
Minister T Srinivas Yadav, home minister Mahmood Ali and Hyderabad City Police Commissioner SCV Anand had reached to take stock of the situation.