Fire engulfs ayurvedic firm in RT Nagar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Around 11 people were rescued after a fire broke out at the basement of a threestorey commercial building at the 80-feet Main Road in RT Nagar here on Friday afternoon, the city police said.

There was no injury or loss of life reported, they added. According to the fire officials, a call about a fire was received at 1:50 pm, following which four fire tenders were rushed to the spot and doused the raging fire within 4 pm.

According to the officials, the fire originated in the diesel generator in the basement of the building.

A call centre operates on the ground and first floors of the building, while the third and fourth floors are occupied by an Ayurvedic product marketing firm, Miracle Drinks, which reportedly is researched by a retired IAS officer SM Raju from the State who served in Bihar cadre and claims to offer treatment for 170 health disorders.

Stocks of Ayurvedic medicines stored at the basement and nearly 25 vehicles parked there also caught fire and were completely gutted.

The impact of the fire was such that smoke engulfed the upper floors of the building, following which those working on the third and fourth floors rushed to the terrace.

"Our team managed to rescue more than 11 people who panicked and rushed to the terrace soon after the fire broke out. While one of our teams was extinguishing the fire, the other team was engaged in rescuing people from the terrace using a ladder," a senior fire officer said.

Of them, three complained of breathing difficulty and were taken to a hospital nearby and later discharged.

Urban Development Department Minister and Hebbal MLA Byrathi Suresh visited the spot as the fire officials were carrying out the operation to douse the fire.

A preliminary inquiry suggested that a short circuit in the generator caused the fire. Minister Byrathi Suresh assured that a probe will be initiated to determine the exact cause of the fire.