Ahmedabad: One killed, seven injured in fire at Ganesh Genesis building

AHMEDABAD: One woman was killed and seven others were injured after a major fire broke out at Ganesh Genesis building in Gota area of Ahmedabad on Friday afternoon.
The fire broke out on the fourth floor of the building, reportedly due to a short circuit in AC.
Chief fire officer MF Dastoor said that seven persons were rescued by the fire officials by the high rise building.
"A woman from the ninth floor dead and her son seriously injured. Overall, 35 people have been rescued so far. Two people, both overweight above 100 kg and immobile, could not be rescued. They, however, are reported safe on the ninth floor ," said Dastoor .
Dastoor blamed the illegal encroachments in the building which fuelled the fire spread. "The residents had blocked the cross-ventilation by building doors and facade grills leading to major smoke accumulation in the stairway," he said.
Residents said that the fire department worked hard to save lives but the hi-teach snorkel did not open that hampered the rescue operation and people at the sixth and seventh floor of the building were not evacuated
"The sensor of the snorkel got blocked and could not operate the ski-lift. We are checking the equipment to ascertain why it failed to start," said Dastoor.
Residents cried foul that the fire brigade should ensure that their equipment is in functional order to be useful in such disasters. In Video:One killed, seven injured in a major fire at Ahmedabad building