Palghar, March 22 Nine people were rescued after a fire broke out in a 12-story residential building in Palghar district, Maharashtra, on Sunday morning, an official said.
There were no reports of injuries in the blaze that erupted on the eighth floor of the building in Virar East around 11 am, he said.
The fire severely damaged the entrance panels of three flats on the eighth floor.
Thick smoke engulfed the floor and spread throughout the building, causing panic among residents. Nine people, including children and senior citizens, trapped in the affected flats were quickly evacuated before the emergency teams arrived.
Fire brigade personnel rushed to the scene with equipment, including fire extinguishers, to assist in firefighting and rescue operations, the official said.
It took approximately two hours to bring the flames under control, he said.
Blaming the builder for technical flaws and safety lapses in the two-year-old building, residents have demanded an immediate fire audit by the civic fire department.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, the official said.