Pune: A massive fire erupted at a photo studio in a five-story building in Bavdhan’s Shindenagar area on Sunday (December 8) evening, sparking panic among residents.

The fire, which started at around 5:52 PM, quickly spread due to the presence of flammable materials, including flexes and photo frames stored inside the studio.

Fire brigade teams from Kothrud, Warje, Pashan, Aundh, and Erandwane were dispatched immediately after receiving information about the fire.

The flames engulfed three adjoining apartments, causing extensive damage to the building.

Amid dense smoke, seven residents were trapped inside the building. Firefighters managed to rescue them safely and transported them to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

After nearly an hour-long operation, the fire was brought under control by 6:45 PM. Cooling operations are currently underway to ensure the fire does not reignite. The fire brigade remains on-site as a precautionary measure.

Police officers also arrived at the scene to assist with crowd control and ensure smooth traffic flow in the surrounding areas. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched to determine the exact reason behind the incident.

Recently, a school bus belonging to Phoenix World School, had caught fire. The bus had 15 to 20 students on board at the time. All the students were safely evacuated before the fire spread.

Two fire engines from the municipal fire brigade were deployed to extinguish the flames. Despite their efforts, the bus was entirely destroyed in the fire.