Three girl students killed in Chandigarh PG blaze, 2 hurt

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 22

Three girl students were killed and two others injured in a fire inside a congested paying guest accommodation in Sector 32 D this afternoon. The residential building was found violating a number of fire safety norms.

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The injured saved their lives by jumping off the first-floor balcony. The firemen found one of the victims unconscious and two others wrapped in a blanket under a bed. The three were shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, where they were declared brought dead.

According to police, the deceased have been identified as Riya, a native of Kapurthala, Pakshi of Kotkapura and Muskan from Hisar. The injured have been identified as Famina and Jasmeen Kaur.

While the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, preliminary police inquiry pointed towards short circuit. People at the scene, however, said one of the girls was charging her laptop when its adaptor burst, leading to the fire. Deputy Commissioner Mandip Singh Brar has marked an inquiry to the SDM (South).

An emergency call was made to the PCR at 3.50 pm, but it was alleged fire tenders arrived at the scene 15-20 minutes later. Fire officials, however, claimed they got a call around 4 pm and arrived at the scene instantly.

According to Station Fire Officer LB Gautam, firemen had to use breathing apparatus to access the house owing to thick smoke. Due to zigzag construction inside the building, the victims were first moved to an open section and then brought out on stretchers. The fire was contained within 15 minutes, but the rescue operation lasted around two hours. The fire officer said they had no information about commercial activity being run there. As many as 25 girls were residing in the building. Owing to a three-day extended weekend, most girls were away.

Fire safety norms violated, say officials

Fire officials found numerous violations of fire safety norms, including a tin shed, cabins, false ceiling and structures blocking entry-exit points. 

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