INDORE: A fire broke out in a hardware shop beneath a residential apartment building in Indore on Saturday, forcing residents to evacuate as smoke spread through the structure.
The blaze erupted in the Veer Savarkar Nagar area and triggered panic among residents of the multi-storey building. Families moved to safety while local residents tried to contain the fire by pouring water on the flames before emergency services arrived.
Two fire engines were deployed to the scene. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after using about 20,000 litres of water, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.
Fire officials said the shop suffered damage to PVC fittings, paint thinner, hardware supplies and furniture. Items in a flat on an upper floor, including curtains, furniture and an LED television, were also damaged due to heat and smoke.
Residents said thick smoke reached the upper floors shortly after the fire started, prompting all occupants to leave the building as a precaution.
No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.
