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India tuition class fire kills at least 17 students | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 17 students have died as a fire ripped through their classrooms in India, officials said. | At least 17 students have died as a fire ripped through their classrooms in India, officials said. |
Students were seen jumping and falling from the building in the western city of Surat as black smoke billowed from windows. | |
Most of the victims were teenagers who had been studying at a tuition centre. | Most of the victims were teenagers who had been studying at a tuition centre. |
The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but officials said the blaze spread through packed classrooms because of the material used in the roof. | The cause of the fire is not yet clear, but officials said the blaze spread through packed classrooms because of the material used in the roof. |
At least 20 others sustained serious injuries and are being treated in hospital in Gujarat. | At least 20 others sustained serious injuries and are being treated in hospital in Gujarat. |
"The students lost their life both because of the fire and jumping out of the building," Deepak Sapthaley, a local fire official, told AFP. | "The students lost their life both because of the fire and jumping out of the building," Deepak Sapthaley, a local fire official, told AFP. |
All of the dead were aged below 20 years and many were trapped because the fire had emanated from near the staircase, Reuters reported. | All of the dead were aged below 20 years and many were trapped because the fire had emanated from near the staircase, Reuters reported. |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences on Twitter and called for local authorities to provide assistance. | Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences on Twitter and called for local authorities to provide assistance. |
An inquiry into the incident has been ordered and a report is expected within three days, said the spokesman for the office of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. | An inquiry into the incident has been ordered and a report is expected within three days, said the spokesman for the office of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. |
The fire is the latest in a long line of deadly blazes in India. In February at least 17 people died in a Delhi hotel fire. | The fire is the latest in a long line of deadly blazes in India. In February at least 17 people died in a Delhi hotel fire. |