A major fire engulfed a multi-storey commercial building at Fateh Maidan in Basheerbagh here on Wednesday afternoon.
The blaze broke out at the Advantage One Tax Consulting office on the fifth floor of Khan Lateef Khan Estates around 1 p.m. and spread to the other floors.
Firemen rescued five people who were trapped and they were shifted to hospital. However, there was no loss of life or serious injuries to employees or visitors.
Fire officials said an electric short-circuit in the air conditioner may have caused the fire.
Leading fireman of Assembly station, Shiva Shankar said the fire was brought under control by 4 p.m. and the building vacated in minutes. But, non-functioning fire-fighting equipment, blocked stairs and exit doors, and lack of ventilation posed as hurdles.
He said 11 fire emergency vehicles were rushed to the spot to put out the fire. GHMCs disaster response force was also pressed into service.
Notices issued
GHMC has served notices on the Estate management and seized the three floors.
It has been primarily established that the building lacks occupancy certificate and trade license. The management has been asked to furnish building permission and fire NOC by Thursday morning, zonal commissioner Musharraf Ali Farooqui said in a press release.
