Fire in Ghaziabad high-rise brought under control; no casualties

A major fire that broke out in a high-rise residential building in Indirapuram here on Wednesday morning has been completely brought under control after a large-scale firefighting and rescue operation, officials said, adding that no casualties has been reported so far.

A major fire that broke out in a high-rise residential building in Indirapuram here on Wednesday morning has been completely brought under control after a large-scale firefighting and rescue operation, officials said, adding that no casualties has been reported so far. The blaze erupted on the 11th floor of Gaur Green Avenue Society around 9 am and spread to multiple flats across several floors, a fire department official said, adding that by 11.30 am, the fire was completely contained. Officials said that rescue operations were carried out simultaneously, and several residents were safely evacuated, including an elderly man on oxygen support, who was brought out on a stretcher by the firefighters. Chief Fire Officer Rahul Kumar told PTI that 17 fire tenders, two hydraulic cranes and around 70 fire personnel were deployed to control the blaze. Fire units from nearby Noida were also pressed into the operation under the leadership of fire officer Pradeep Kumar. He said the fire had spread across seven to eight floors but was prevented from reaching nearly 20 nearby flats that were in the immediate danger zone. By around 11.30 am, the fire was completely brought under control, and cooling operations were underway at the site, Kumar said around 1.30 pm, adding that the cause of the fire is being investigated. Meanwhile, in Lucknow, an official statement said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the incident and directed the Ghaziabad police commissioner and the district magistrate to remain present at the spot and supervise relief operations.