Surat fire: 22 killed in coaching centre blaze, horrific visuals show kids falling off burning building
The fire which engulfed the four-storey building started at the ground floor, forcing students to take cover at roof. At least 22 students were killed, either due to suffocation or falling off the windows in an attempt to escape fire.
In Short
- A fire engulfed a coaching centre in Gujarat's Surat, killing at least 22 people
- Visuals from the spot show several students falling off the windows trying to escape thick smoke
- Gujarat CM has ordered an inquiry and has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased
At least 22 students were killed and several others injured in a fire at a coaching centre in Sarthana area of Surat in Gujarat. The coaching centre was located on the third and fourth floors of the Takshashila Complex.
Students, mostly teenagers, died "either due to suffocation or jumping off from the complex", the deputy CM said. "We have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will not spare those found guilty," Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said.
Horrifying visuals of the fire showed kids falling off the windows.
Warning: The following visuals are disturbing.
Surat @sardanarohit pic.twitter.com/db5Kzn4bGO Mayursinh (@apkajaddu) May 24, 2019
# , 10 #Gujarat #Surat @vijayrupanibjp @CMOGuj pic.twitter.com/w0cLpEBiL2 Gaurav Omvir Singh (@GauravSingh1307) May 24, 2019
Sarthana jakatnaka takshashila apartment maa lagi aag #Surat pic.twitter.com/X6ah57bdC3 RJ VEER (@rjVEERindia) May 24, 2019
CAUSE OF FIRE
An initial investigation suggests the fire was caused by a short-circuit. According to a fire official, flames started from the ground floor and reached the top floor, forcing some students to take shelter on the terrace which was covered.
"Lot of smoke accumulated on the top floor where there were AC compressors and tyres which too caught fire. There was no escape route available for the students who got trapped on the top floors. The fire was doused in one hour. There were no safety equipment installed in the building," a fire official told the media.
Coaching classes at the centre were run in a shade built on the top floor of the building, Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel said, adding that they "will check if the construction was illegal".
RESCUE OPERATIONS
The fire official said that 19 fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the fire. It took an hour to contain the blaze.
Eye-witnesses claimed that there were around 50 students in the complex when the fire started.
"Around 10 students on fourth and third floor jumped off to the ground to save themselves from fire and smoke," said a fire official.
Locals helped in the rescue operation to save the stranded students and other occupants of the building.
Heartbreaking Video
Massive Fire at ine commercial Complex , Named
in surat's #sarthana Area .
Many Students were stuck.
A Brave man tried to rescue the Girls.
Pray &Hope for No big Injuries. #Surat #suratFire pic.twitter.com/h9XBWWVeui Hitesh Pandya (@Hiteshpandya21) May 24, 2019
CM OFFICE ORDERS INVESTIGATION
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has ordered an investigation into the incident. The chief minister has also declared financial help of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of children who died in this incident, an official statement from the CM office said.
Later in the day, Vijay Rupani visited the hospital to meet those injured in fire. "I am told that due to fire in the staircase, several people jumped from the fourth floor of the building to escape. Have ordered enquiry".
Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani visits hospital to meet those injured in fire at coaching centre in Surat; says, "I'm told that due to fire in the staircase, several people jumped from the 4th floor of the building to escape. Have ordered enquiry". 20 people have died in the incident pic.twitter.com/h27hRa2Iav ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2019
Meanwhile, municipal authorities in Ahmedabad ordered closure of all coaching classes till further orders to check whether they follow fire safety norms.
PM NARENDRA MODI EXPRESSES ANGUISH
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep anguish over the incident and directed authorities to provide all possible help."Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected," PM Narendra Modi tweeted.
Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also reacted on the deadly fire. "Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives due to fire in Surat. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," Rajnath Singh said in a tweet.
BJP chief Amit Shah also expressed his grief on the tragedy and asked BJP workers to provide all possible assistance.
"Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident in Surat, Gujarat. My condolences with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. I urge our karyakartas of BJP Surat unit to assist the people in need," Amit Shah said in his tweet.
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident in Surat, Gujarat. My condolences with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. I urge our karyakartas of BJP Surat unit to assist the people in need. Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 24, 2019
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi tweeted to express anguish on the incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
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