The fire engulfed the third and fourth floor of a Taxshila Arcade in Sarthana area CollectedSurat fire kills 18 students at coaching centreAt least 18 people were killed when a fire broke out in a four-storey commercial building in the city of Surat in India's western state of Gujarat on Friday, a state government spokesman said. Television footage broadcast by private channel NDTV showed people jumping off the top floor of the Takshashila building or trying to escape by climbing down, as thick smoke billowed out. Most of the dead were students who had been attending class at a tuition centre housed in the building, according to the spokesman for the office of Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. "The rescue operation has ended and 18 people have died," the spokesman said. Television footage showed people trying to grab a large banner on the side of the building as they plummeted down.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 24, 2019 14:30 UTC