Massive Fire Erupts in Noida High-Rise, Rescue Ops Underway

A massive fire broke out at Ivy County Society in Sector 75, Noida, triggering panic among residents as the blaze rapidly escalated within a short span of time. Fire brigade teams and police personnel rushed to the spot soon after the alert and are currently engaged in efforts to control the flames. Authorities have confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far. Further details regarding the cause of the fire and the extent of damage are awaited as firefighting and rescue operations continue. The area falls under the jurisdiction of Sector 113 Police Station. This comes just two days after 21 people were killed in a deadly fire at a hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar. The five-storey Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani was engulfed in fire on Wednesday, and has put the spotlight on alleged safety violations and cramped accommodation facilities linked to the hotel’s owner, Lavkesh Bajaj, who has been arrested. Police are investigating allegations of unauthorised construction, fire-safety violations, blocked exits and licensing irregularities, while five teams have been formed to trace hotel manager Jai Mishra, who remains absconding. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established. Notably, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police and Fire Department had on Thursday launched a seven-day special inspection and awareness drive at hotels and other establishments to strengthen fire safety measures. Under the direction of Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh and supervision of Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar, 23 hotels were inspected on the first day of the drive, officials said. During the inspections, fire safety arrangements were examined and hotel management, employees and visitors were sensitised about emergency preparedness. A live demonstration on the use of primary firefighting equipment was also conducted, in which around 787 people participated, according to an official statement. Hotel operators were instructed to keep firefighting equipment functional, comply with fire safety standards and Read more