Fire in SBI insurance office; students, old man rescued

The incident occurred around 8.45 am, when a house keeping staff noticed smoke emerging from the third floor. The floor houses the SBI Life Insurance office. Within minutes, the fire started to spread gutting computers and furniture on the floor. 

The building also houses the training institute and lodging for 100 odd students who were evacuated from the building using the stairs by the Fire and Rescue personnel. 

“The students were preparing for classes when the fire broke out. They escaped without any injuries. But the building was enveloped in thick smoke which created panic. A few glass panel windows had to be broken to allow ventilation,” said Rajesh Khanna, District Fire Officer (Central). The cause of the fire was suspected to be a short circuit in the UPS, however, this is yet to be ascertained.  The fire has left cracks on the building and on the terrace, apart from causing several damages. 

Meanwhile, a senior citizen who works as a house keeper and security for an apartment in the building was rescued from the terrace. Pragadeesh (60) could not come down from the terrace due to the smoke which had engulfed the stairs in the building. The DFO reached out to him by using a stairway in the backside of the building.