Five killed in fire at furniture shop building in Hyderabad
Hyderabad (PTI): Five persons, including two children and an elderly woman, died after a fire broke out in a four-storey furniture shop building in Nampally here, officials said on Sunday.
A major fire broke out on Saturday in the building, after which rescue operations were launched to save five persons trapped in the basement, officials said.
"Five bodies, including that of two boys and an elderly woman were retrieved from the cellar of the building on Sunday," a senior police official told PTI.
They are suspected to have died due to asphyxiation. However, the cause of the deaths would be known after post-mortem, she said.
ALSO READ: Three killed in fire at furniture shop building in Hyderabad
When asked about the cause of the blaze, the official said it was under investigation. A case was registered against the owner of the shop, the official added.
Telangana Fire, Disaster Response, Emergency and Civil Defence Department Director General Vikram Singh Mann told media on Sunday that furniture, raw material, chemicals, plastics, mattresses, foam were among the materials stored in the two basements of the building.
This apart, accommodation with a room was provided to a security guard and his family in the cellar, he said, adding the basements were meant only for parking.
Multiple agencies, including police, fire, NDRF personnel and Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), took part in the rescue operations that began Saturday afternoon.
Although the fire was brought under control, thick smoke billowing out from the building made the operation difficult.
The ramp leading to the basements was also blocked with materials which made it difficult for rescue personnel to access, officials earlier said.
Those who were trapped were the family members of a security guard and other workers.
Expressing shock over the incident, Transport and Hyderabad District in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Sunday said the government would support the families of the victims.
He directed the police officials to file criminal cases against the shop owner for "not following" fire safety guidelines.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
French President Macron concludes Mumbai visit
Mumbai (PTI): French President Emmanuel Macron, along with First Lady Brigitte Macron, left Mumbai for New Delhi on Wednesday after concluding his engagements here, including bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
They were seen off at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
On Tuesday, Macron held discussions with Modi as part of efforts to further strengthen India-France strategic ties.
During the Mumbai visit, the French president and his wife also met some of India's top filmmakers and actors, and had an animated exchange with them about cinema, culture and collaboration.
President Macron is on an official visit to India from February 17 to 19 at the invitation of PM Modi to participate in the AI Impact Summit hosted by India in the national capital Delhi, besides the bilateral summit in Mumbai.
PM Modi will inaugurate the summit on February 19. As many as 20 heads of states, including French President Macron, will be present at the inaugural session, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said.
