Nineteen people, mostly students, were killed after a building in Surat caught fire today afternoon. The students studying in a coaching centre died and many were seen jumping off the multi-storey building in Surat that caught fire. The fire engulfed the third and fourth floor-- where the coaching centre ran-- of a Takshashila Arcade in Sarthana area of Surat, officials said. There were 120 students registered in the coaching class. Nineteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the flames and for rescue operations, an official at the Surat fire control room said. Television footage showed students jumping off the third and fourth floors of the building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the incident: "Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected."
Here are the updates from the fire in Surat's Takshashila Complex:
My heart goes out to the parents & loved ones of the children killed in the fire in Surat.This mind-numbing tragedy once again drives home how poor our building codes & fire safety standards are.May the souls of the deceased rest in peace & may the injured make a speedy recovery.
- Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) 24 May 2019
Extremely sad news from Gujarat. Our thoughts are with bereaved families. May local authorities provide all possible assistance to those affected and the injured recover quickly.
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) 24 May 2019
We're shocked & deeply saddened by the loss of lives of children in the terrible fire at a coaching centre in Surat. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. We urge our @INCGujarat workers to do what they can to help. https://t.co/d6gD62p0Ni
- Congress (@INCIndia) 24 May 2019
Surat fire: Visuals of rescue operations underway at the site of the incident. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/koHs359NM8
- ANI (@ANI) 24 May 2019
सुरत, गुजरात में हुये इस हादसे की ख़बर से बहुत दुःख पहुंचा है।
- Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 24 May 2019
पीड़ित परिवारों के प्रति, मैं गहरी शोक और संवेदना व्यक्त करता हूँ।
घायलों के जल्द से जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूँ। https://t.co/RWnH8dJTdP
Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani: There has been an incident of fire in Surat's coaching class in which small kids have died. This incident is very saddening. State Govt will give Rs 4 lakh financial help to families of kids who died. Children injured will be given proper & fast treatment pic.twitter.com/ftB00llyUO
- ANI (@ANI) 24 May 2019
Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a tragic fire accident in Surat, Gujarat. My condolences with the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured. I urge our karyakartas of BJP Surat unit to assist the people in need.
- Amit Shah (@AmitShah) 24 May 2019
Saddened to hear of the unfortunate fire-tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
- Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) 24 May 2019
Saddened by the loss of lives in Surat
- Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) 24 May 2019
My thoughts and prayers are with their families
I appeal to local authorities to provide best possible medical relief to the injured, adequate compensation to families of deceased & ensure fire safety means are in place across Gujarat
Anguished to learn about the fire tragedy in Surat where 15 people have lost their lives and several have been injured.
- Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) 24 May 2019
My thoughts are with the families of the victims.
Urge the state government & authorities to take swift measures and provide all requisite assistance. https://t.co/DSsGfK5bnL
Deeply saddened by the news of Surat fire tragedy. Instructed officials to do needful. My prayers are with all those affected. May those who have been injured recover at the earliest. I pray for the departed souls. Om Shanti.
- Vijay Rupani (@vijayrupanibjp) 24 May 2019
गुजरात के सूरत में तक्षशिला कॉम्प्लेक्स बिल्डिंग में आग लगने से ट्यूसन क्लास में पढ़ रहे पंद्रह से अधिक बच्चों की मृत्यु के समाचार सुन बहुत ही दुःखी हूँ।बच्चों के परिवार के प्रति मेरी संवेदना हैं।मैं घायल बच्चों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ की प्रार्थना करता हूँ।ॐ शांति
- Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) 24 May 2019
Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives due to fire in Surat. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured.
- Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) 24 May 2019
Extremely pained by the tragic loss of lives due to massive fire in a building in #Surat, #Gujarat. The incident is very unfortunate and I hope that others who are trapped are rescued soon. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.
- Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) 24 May 2019
Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.
- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 24 May 2019
