Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS): At least 3 persons were killed and two other injured when a fire engulfed a hotel building in Mumbai's Santacruz east on Sunday afternoon, the BMC Disaster Control said.

The blaze was reported around 1 p.m. in the ground plus 4-storied Galaxy Hotel in Prabhat Colony, Santacruz east.

According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the fire sparked off from electric wiring, electric installation, split AC unit, curtains, mattresses, wooden furniture, etc. in two rooms on the first and second floors.

The flames quickly spread to the common electrical ducts, laundry, staircase lobby almost covering the entire hotel premises, even as people rushed out in panic.

The MFB teams battled the conflagration and finally extinguished it after over three hours. The cause of the blaze is not clear yet.

Five badly charred persons were recovered who were rushed to the nearby V. N. Hospital, where 3 were declared dead and two others are undergoing treatment, said the BMC Disaster Control.

The deceased are identified as Rupal Kanji, 25, Kishan, 28, and Kantilal Gordhan Vara, 48, while the injured are Alfa Vakhariya, 19 and Manjula Vakhariya, 49.