SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 31: Several family members, including women and children were feared trapped in a massive fire which broke out in Ashirwad Tower near Shakti Mandir Joraphatak Road under Bank More police station of the coal city in the evening.
Fire department official claimed that fire broke out at around 6 pm and was completely checked at 8.55 PM.
PMCH sources said that 14 bodies have arrived and many more are feared to be trapped in the apartment. Three kids and 10 women are included among the 14 dead in the fire incident. Entire area of Ashirwad Tower was cordoned off for safety point of view Dhanbad deputy commissioner (DC) Sandip Singh, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sanjiv Kumar and other officials were camping on the spot but refused to share information about the trapped persons and casualty.
However, eye witness said around 15 persons were rescued and sent to the hospital by ambulance. They did not confirm whether they were injured or casualty.
Ashirwad Tower is 10 to 12- storey apartment with two blocks A and B, around 70 to 80 flats are in both the blocks.
An eyewitness said the fire broke out in second floor of B Block in flat of Pankaj Agrawal and it spread to the 3rd floor soon. Flame of a Diya caught curtain of the room and it soon spread. The eyewitness said those residents of flats went to the top roof escaped safely but those who tried to come down through the staircase were trapped in fire and smoke.
