Chandigarh Building Fire: Bodies of Two Firemen Recovered

New Delhi: The bodies of two of the three firemen, who were trapped under the debris after a building collapsed in Chandigarh on Sunday night, have been recovered.

The fire broke out at around 4:50 pm in the four-storey commercial building which housed the government-run National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIEIT) in Sector 17, commercial hub of the Chandigarh. A short circuit is believed to be the cause of the fire.

Around 14 to 20 fire engines from Chandigarh, SAS Nagar and Panchkula were rushed to the spot.

At around 9.30 pm, the old building succumbed to the high temperate and collapsed, trapping three of the fire fighters at work under the debris.

"We are trying our best to get the trapped people out of the debris as human lives are always our top priority. The fire officials are also trying to make sure that the adjoining buildings are not affected by the fire," said Mr Vivek Pratap Singh, Municipal Commissioner, Chandigarh.

The fire was later brought under control and the rescue operations to safely get the trapped men out are underway.