Noida: Two people were killed after a four-storied residential building caught fire in Noida’s Mamura village on Wednesday. The fire is suspected to have been caused by sparks from an electric vehicle battery that was being charged on the ground floor.
The blaze prompted a large-scale rescue operation in which nearly 50 families were evacuated, the police said. The landlord has been arrested.
The blaze started on the ground floor of the G+4 building in lane 2, where an electric vehicle battery was being charged. The sparks allegedly ignited nearby petrol-powered vehicles parked in the building, causing the fire to spread rapidly and fill the premises with thick smoke, the police said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Seven fire tenders, a hydraulic platform, fire department and local police teams rushed to the spot after being alerted. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and safely evacuated all residents from the building, officials said.
“There were nearly 50 families residing in the building. All occupants were evacuated safely during the rescue operation. However, two people whose health deteriorated due to smoke inhalation were shifted to the district hospital, where a man and a woman were declared dead by doctors,” the police said in a statement.
A case has been registered against the building owner/leaseholder under relevant provisions of law the police said. The accused has been taken into custody and further legal action is underway.
“Preliminary inquiry suggests the fire originated from sparks from an electric vehicle battery being charged on the ground floor. The exact cause will be established after a detailed investigation,” an official said.
It is being ascertained whether the building complied with mandatory fire safety norms and if any lapses contributed to the loss of life.
