20 killed in massive blaze at coaching centre in Surat

Surat : At least 20 students have been reportedly killed in a massive fire that broke out at a coaching centre in Surat on Friday. In a video of the incident, the students can be seen jumping off the building's fourth floor.

The students were attending the tuitions when the fire broke out at the Takshila building. The officials said that at least 10 students jumped off third and fourth floor in a bid to save their lives.

"The fire started near the staircase, so they could not get down," Joint Commissioner of Police Harikrishna Patel said, adding that all the dead were aged below 20 years.

Nineteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the fire and rescue those stuck inside the building, said an official of Surat fire control room. The fire was doused within an hour. No safety equipment was reportedly installed in the building, added the official.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani paid a visit to the students in the hospital. He later announced a check on safety norms for all schools and malls in the state.

"As per the information received, 20 students have died in the fire. Many others were injured and shifted to a hospital," Deputy CM Nitin Patel said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his anger of the incident, directing the local authorities to provide all possible aid and assistance to the effected people.