Mumbai building fire: 60 rescued, many still feared trapped

Fire brigade personnel deployed an aerial ladder to rescue 60 persons from a Mumbai building, where fire broke out Monday afternoon, officials said.

Efforts are on to rescue people who may still be trapped in the nine-floor telephone exchange building in western suburb Bandra, an official said.

Most of those rescued were trapped on the terrace of the building.

Fire brigade personnel entered the building with oxygen masks and searchlights to rescue people who may be trapped on some floors, an official said.

Two fire brigade personnel, who were exposed to the smoke billowing out of the building, were shifted to nearby hospital for treatment.

Fire was confined to the third and fourth floors, the official said.

There is no clear picture yet about those on the third and fourth floors, he said.

"We came down from the fifth floor via lift. We saw fire brigade personnel bringing out some people from a smoke- filled floor," a woman said.

Another woman who also managed to come out of the building, said,"When we came to know of the fire, we searched for the staircase, which had become partially invisible due to heavy smoke."