Three die of suffocation after fire engulfs commercial complex in Korba – ThePrint –

Korba, Jun 19 (PTI) Three persons died of suffocation after a fire broke out at a commercial complex in Chhattisgarh’s Korba city on Monday afternoon, an official said.

He said that seventeen people who were rescued have been taken to hospital.

Sanjeev Kumar Jha, Korba collector, told PTI that the fire started around 1.30pm in a clothing shop of a two-storey building near Transport Nagar Square, and spread gradually to other establishments.

The complex has 18 to 20 shops, as well a branch bank.

A video shows people jumping off a corner on the first floor and landing on a mattress being held by people below.

The official stated that within 15 minutes after being notified, teams of fire fighters from NTPC (Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board), Balco and CSEB (Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board), arrived on the scene and personnel from police, home guard, and Central Industrial Security Force launched a rescue effort.

He said that the fire was extinguished in one and a half hours, and that around 20 people had been rescued.

Officials said that three died due to suffocation. Smoke inhalation was the cause of death for the others. They were all hospitalised. Their condition is described as normal.

According to preliminary investigations, the fire was caused by a short-circuit in the clothing shop. PTI COR ARU RSY

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