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Kolkata fire kills 24

Other News Materials 24 March 2010 12:12 (UTC +04:00)
A fire killed at least 24 people in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, news reports said Wednesday.
Kolkata fire kills 24

A fire killed at least 24 people in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, news reports said Wednesday.

The blaze, which gutted a 150-year-old, multistorey building, had broken out the day before, and firefighters were only able to bring it under control early Wednesday, the NDTV news channel reported.

Initial news reports said six people had been killed, but when firefighters searched the building after putting out the fire, they found more bodies, DPA reported.

At least 18 people were injured, and eight of them were in critical condition.

The building houses offices and apartments as well as two of Kolkata's most popular restaurants.

According to initial findings, the fire had been caused by a short circuit in an elevator between the fifth and sixth floors and spread from there, the PTI news agency reported.

Residents climbed out windows and on narrow ledges. Several people were killed when they fell or jumped from the upper storeys to escape the fire.

PTI quoted police as saying that others tried to escape via the roof but found the access door locked.

Rescue efforts were hampered by heavy traffic blocking access by larger firetrucks, lack of equipment and crowds watching the fire.

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