Surat Fire Tragedy: Police Files FIR Against Takshashila Complex Builders, Coaching Centre Owner After Blaze Kills 20
The complex builders - Harshal Vakharia and Jignesh - have been booked for negligence, along with Bhargav Bhutani, the owner of coaching centre who failed to adhere to the safety standards.
Surat, May 25: After the tragic fire at a coaching centre in Takshashila Complex, the Surat police swung into action. Within 12 hours after launching a preliminary probe, the first FIR was registered against three people. Among those booked in the suo moto complaint, include the two complex builders and owner of the coaching centre where the blaze broke out.
The complex builders - Harshal Vakharia and Jignesh - have been booked for negligence, along with Bhargav Bhutani, the owner of coaching centre who failed to adhere to the safety standards. Surat: Huge Fire at Coaching Centre; 19 Students Dead, 8 Injured; Watch Horrific Video
In a video clip of the incident, some young students at the Takshashila Complex in Sarthana area, where the building is located, can be seen jumping off the third and fourth floors amid plumes of thick smoke.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said at least 19 students have died in the fire, but Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel has put the figure at 20.
"As per the information received, 20 students have died in the fire. Many others were injured and shifted to a hospital," Patel said.
Students, mostly teenagers, died "either due to suffocation or jumping off from the complex", he said.
"We have ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident. We will not spare those found guilty," the deputy chief minister added.
Coaching classes at the centre were run in a shade built on the top floor of the building, he said, adding that they "will check if the construction was illegal".
Ninteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the fire, said an official of Surat fire control room.
Eye-witnesses claimed that there were around 50 students in the complex when the fire started.
"Around 10 students on fourth and third floor jumped off to the ground to save themselves from fire and smoke," said a fire official.
Locals helped in the rescue operation to save the stranded students and other occupants of the building.
According to a fire official, flames started from the ground floor and reached the top floor, forcing some students to take shelter on the terrace which was covered.
"Lot of smoke accumulated on the top floor where there were AC compressors and tyres which too caught fire. There was no escape route available for the students who got trapped on the top floors. The fire was doused in one hour. There were no safety equipment installed in the building," a fire official told the media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguished over the fire tragedy. "Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected," he said.
(With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 25, 2019 09:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).