Eight people were killed and several others injured after a fire broke out at an electric scooter showroom, and later spread to a hotel located above it in Telangana’s Secunderabad late last night.
Officials said the fire broke out at the electric scooter showroom on the ground floor of the building, and soon spread upwards into the Ruby Hotel on the first and second floor, where at least 25 guests were staying.
Most of the people seemed to have died because of asphyxiation caused by the smoke, they added.
The Fire Department rescued several people using crane ladders, while a few locals also joined in and helped in the rescue operations, officials said. Videos also show some people trying to jump out from the hotel windows in a bid to escape the fire.
The injured have been shifted to the hospital for treatment and fire engines are at the spot trying to douse the flames, said Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand.
Telangana Home Minister Mohammad Mehmood Ali said a probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire.
“Fire brigade teams tried their best to rescue people from the lodge but due to heavy smoke, some people died. We are probing how the incident happened,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet announced a compensation of ₹ 2 lakh each for the family members of the people who died in the mishap, and ₹ 50,000 each for the injured.