Maharashtra: Watchman dead, over 40 girl students rescued from hostel after fire in Pune building

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A watchman died and more than 40 girl students were rescued after a fire broke out in a five-storey Pune building that houses a hostel in Shanipar area of Maharashtra's Pune city in the wee hours of Friday, officials said, reported news agency PTI.

According to the police, the fire was reported on the first floor of the institute and on the second floor which was used as a PG-type accommodation by girl students.

The incident occurred around 1.30 am, said Pune Municipal Corporation's chief fire officer Devendra Potphode, reported PTI.

According to the fire officials, the fire was doused within 45 minutes after it broke out.

Forty-two girl students who were living in the hostel on the second floor of the Pune building were evacuated following the fire, he said.

"The fire brigade received a call about the fire in a five-storey Pune building. After our team reached the spot, it was found that the blaze had erupted at an accounting academy on the ground floor," Potphode said, reported PTI.

By the time the fire brigade team reached the site, people in the area evacuated the girl students in the hostel, he said.

When the fire was being doused on the ground floor, one person in his early 40s was found dead there with the death apparently being caused by burn injuries, he added.

According to officials, the watchman of the building who was sleeping on the ground floor was charred to death in the fire incident that took place on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Sandip Singh Gill said that deceased man was a watchman who was inside a room on the ground floor, reported PTI.

"After he was found there, he was referred to the Sassoon General Hospital, but was declared dead by doctors," he said, reported PTI.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)