Several people, including women, were trapped after a major fire broke out at Bagadiya Tower in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain on Wednesday evening. Police, firefighters and disaster response teams launched a large-scale rescue operation.
According to initial reports, around 10 to 15 people were trapped inside the multi-storey building in the Purani Kotwali police station area.
More than 10 fire tenders rushed to the spot as thick smoke engulfed the structure. Teams from the police, municipal corporation and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) joined the rescue efforts.
District Collector Roshan Singh, the Superintendent of Police and other senior officials also reached the site to supervise the operation.
Among those rescued were Poonam Chaurasia and her son, who were inside flat number 304 on the third floor. She said thick smoke had filled the corridor and the area near the elevator when she woke up, making it difficult to breathe.
Five people, including her son and residents of a neighbouring flat, were trapped inside. She contacted her husband in panic, following which rescuers evacuated them to the rooftop. The team brought all five occupants to safety after nearly two hours.
Eyewitness Prahlad Sharma said he was attending a Garuda Purana programme on the third floor when the fire broke out. He escaped using a long ladder provided by firefighters. However, women at the location struggled to use the ladder.
Firefighters continued to face difficulties due to heavy smoke. Authorities had not yet confirmed the cause of the fire or issued an official statement.
Rescue and firefighting operations were underway at the time of reporting.
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