Major fire engulfs residential building near India's Mumbai

A major fire broke out at a five-storied residential building near India's financial capital Mumbai Friday, police said.

There have been no reports of casualty in the incident as nearly 20 people were evacuated by the fire brigade that swung into action immediately, a senior police official said.

"The fire broke out at the residential building in Bhiwandi in the western Indian state of Maharashtra's Thane district, which is close to Mumbai, this morning," he said.

The building houses a textile godown which is why the fire spread quickly and engulfed large parts of the five-storied building.

"Several fire tenders have been pressed into service to bring the inferno under control. Also efforts are on to trace anyone feared trapped inside the building," the official said.

A probe has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the fire, he added.

Mumbai and its adjoining areas have been in the news for several fire incidents in the recent past. Last week, a fire gutted a garment godown in Mumbai's Dharavi, India's largest slum.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)