Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nehra on Friday, 24 May, ordered all the tuition centres in Ahmedabad to be shut down until further notice, after the tragic Surat coaching centre fire claimed the lives of at least 20 students.
Nehra said that there was an attitude of “carelessness” when it came to fire safety and that the government had to take drastic action to avoid such accidents.
Many students jumped and fell to their deaths while some were suffocated, officials said. Several injuries were also reported.
Videos on social media captured horrific scenes at the Takshashila Complex in Sarthana area where the building is located, as students tried to save themselves by jumping out of windows.
A video clip showed students jumping off from third and fourth floor windows amid plumes of thick smoke rising from the building.
Nineteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service for dousing and rescue operations at Sarthana area of Surat, said an official of Surat fire control room.
Local people helped with the rescue operation to save stranded students and other occupants of the building housing coaching classes and other establishments.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered the principal secretary of the Urban Development department to rush to the spot.
He also declared financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each for the family members of those who died in the incident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "extremely anguished" by the fire tragedy in his home state.
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