Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Jan 5: Locals rescued 30 people, residents of apartment building situated opposite Kandavara gram panchayat at Bajpe, as fire was noticed due to electrical short circuit in electricity meter board.
Around 9.45 pm on Wednesday January 4, thick smoke engulfed the basement area of the building and quickly rose to higher areas. Only when the smoke reached top floors, the residents started screaming for help. Locals rushed but could not bring the inmates of the building. They immediately contacted Apathbandhava Rafiq of Gurpur, who rushed to the spot and rescued all 30 people along with the help from locals.
As the meter board was burnt mobile torches were used to bring the people out from the flats. Clothes were tied around their face to prevent breathlessness. Even then, some of the residents experienced breathing problem, but they recovered later. Smoke covered the whole building till late night.
Police visited the spot and inspected the area. The apartment building is 10 years old and has 21 flats. However, when the fire mishap occurred, there were people only in six flats.