New Delhi:
A major fire that broke out at a bank in Central Delhi has finally been doused. According to reports, there are no casualties and all those who were trapped inside the multi-storey building have been rescued.
The fire began at about 4.30 pm at the six-storey headquarters of the Punjab National Bank, less than half a kilometre from the Indian Parliament. 25 fire engines spent more than two hours fighting the flames. Adjoining offices were evacuated.
From the fourth floor of a the building in the heart of Delhi, women trapped inside the Punjab National Bank on fire climbed onto the ledges of windows this evening. Fire-fighters stationed there helped them onto ladders and cranes that brought them to safety.
The Delhi fire chief said that the evacuation process could have been managed better. He added that the fire department has rescued 125 people from the building. He says this level of rescue operation is unprecedented in the Delhi fire department. Three operations were conducted simultaneously today.
A man who escaped the flames said that he leaped onto the terrace of a building next-door along with some colleagues. He said an alarm did sound through the office when the fire began.
(Watch: Eyewitnesses account)Two hydraulic elevators were pressed into service by fire brigade officials who broke the window panes and rescued them from the top floor of the building.
The police had to block traffic on parts of Ashoka Road and Parliament Street as rescue operations went on.