A fire at a paying guest accommodation in Bengaluru's Nandini Layout forced around 50 women to jump from the building to escape the blaze, with no fatalities or serious casualties reported.
The narrow escape has renewed scrutiny on fire safety at PG accommodations in Bengaluru, where many such properties operate near shops and other commercial units.
Police said residents evacuated quickly, preventing what could have turned into a major tragedy, NDTV reported. Authorities said no deaths or major injuries were recorded.
How It Unfolded
The fire brigade rushed to the spot after receiving an alert and later brought the fire under control.
Officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and how it spread rapidly to the residential building.
Authorities are yet to issue a formal statement on possible action against the owners of the property.
Safety Questions
The incident has triggered fresh concerns over compliance with fire safety rules at PG accommodations, especially in crowded residential areas where such facilities run close to commercial establishments.
In April last year, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike shut more than 300 paying guest accommodations in Bengaluru for violating rules.
According to Public TV English, many people moving to the city for work choose PG accommodations instead of rented homes. This includes working professionals and students from other districts and states.
Several PG accommodations were found violating civic rules, prompting complaints from residents over inconvenience and safety concerns.
The BBMP later introduced 10 guidelines for PG properties. These include obtaining a permit, limiting PGs to specific roads, installing CCTV cameras and maintaining kitchen cleanliness.
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