Fire breaks out at Noida restaurant, smoke seals off upper floors

Noida: Panic gripped a Sector 52 restaurant in Sharma Complex after a fire broke out on Friday morning. Thick smoke spread through the building and trapped nearly 20 people staying in a paying guest (PG) accommodation on the fourth floor.The incident occurred around 7.15 am when flames and smoke were noticed emerging from the restaurant operating on the ground floor of the four-storey commercial building. The complex also houses a bank and medical clinic on the second floor, offices on the third floor and the PG facility on the top floor.Chief fire officer (CFO) Pradeep Kumar Chaubey said four fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately after local residents alerted authorities. Officials said the presence of combustible materials and furniture inside the restaurant made firefighting challenging. However, the blaze was contained within about 30 minutes, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building.Although the fire remained confined to the restaurant, dense smoke rapidly spread through stairways and common areas, making it difficult for PG residents to evacuate. Firefighters wearing protective suits and oxygen cylinders entered the smoke-filled building and launched a coordinated rescue operation.As a precautionary measure, a hydraulic platform was also deployed to assist in rescue efforts if required. After the fire was controlled, teams used exhaust systems and other equipment to clear smoke from the premises and conducted a thorough search to ensure no one remained trapped inside. Officials also called in ambulances from nearby hospitals to respond to any medical emergencies. Three separate teams were formed for firefighting, rescue and search operations.