Three fire engines were deployed and are working to control the flames. However, dense smoke is making it difficult to carry out operations
Hyderabad: A massive fire broke out on the fourth floor of SBI administrative building at Patny Centre in Secunderabad on Sunday evening. The building was empty, officials said, and no one was injured. Four vehicles parked in an adjacent building were gutted after burning material from the SBI building fell on them.
“We received a fire call at 6.47 pm and rushed to the scene along with eight fire tenders,” said Secunderabad senior fire officer B. Venkat Swamy. Over 30 firefighters, two Bronto skylifters and smoke exhausters were deployed in the operation to extinguish the blaze.
Mahanakali police along with the senior officials diverted onlookers and traffic on the arterial road away from the building. Mahankali station house officer K. Parashuram said he had directed electricity officials to shut off power supply of the building.
A strong breeze fanned flames and thick dark smoke engulfed from the building, making it difficult for the firefighters to gain entry into the fourth floor. The firefighters then used the skylifters to directly enter the fourth floor.
On the other side of the building, firefighters deployed powerful exhausters to evacuate the thick dark smoke and improve visibility inside. It took over three hours for the firefighters to extinguish the fire.
“Fortunately no one was in the building as it was a Sunday,” SFP Venkat Swamy said. Files and other furniture placed were destroyed. “We suspect a short circuit might have initiated the fire,” the fire officer said. Mahankali police registered a case of fire accident and began investigations.
