An accidental fire at a medicine distribution agency opposite the Central Crime Branch (CCB) office in Cottonpet on Saturday created panic among the locals.
Some employees remained inside the building when it caught fire in the busy area. Local residents, firemen and police rescued the 15 stuck inside the blazing Raj Towers and ‘Mico Pharma Agencies’ at 7.15 pm.
While the fire broke out on the second floor of the five-storey building, the 15 rescued people were on the top floor. The employees had a tough time getting out of the building as the fire had engulfed the entire second floor. Some were brought via an alternative passage, while some had to be brought out using ladders and ropes, police said. No casualties have been reported.
After noticing the fire, people inside the building ran helter-skelter to save themselves, even as three fire tenders rushed to the area and brought the blaze under control by 8.50 pm. Fire and emergency officials said the flames would be completely put out in a few hours.
Short-circuit suspected
Police suspect that the fire might have been triggered by a short-circuit in the invertor area. While medicines had been gutted in the fire, police will find out the precise reason for the fire in the due course of the investigation.
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