Ahmedabad: Rachit Patel, a 23-year-old man who jumped from the Magnet Corporate Park commercial building in Thaltej to escape fire, died during treatment late on Monday night. His friend, who too took the plunge, suffered a fractured arm. Patel, a native of Rajkot, lived in a paying guest accommodation near Pakwan Crossroads and was employed in an IT firm in the commercial building where a fire broke out in an electrical cable duct.Bodakdev police inspector S G Khambhla said Patel and his friend tried to escape in a hurry after the fire spread. “Both fell from the building. Patel landed on his head, while his friend fell on his body. Patel died during treatment late on Monday night,” he said.Khambhla said police and the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services will inspect the building’s fire safety equipment and emergency exit routes.The fire at the five-storeyed building broke out around 9.30 pm in an electricity cable duct on the second floor. AFES deployed 12 fire tenders to control the blaze. The first and second floors were affected as the rapidly spreading flames consumed furniture, creating thick, black smoke.Around 40 people, mostly employees of various offices, were inside the building when the fire broke out. Many managed to escape to safety on their own, while fire personnel rescued eight persons using ladders.At least five were injured. Three were taken to hospital in ambulances, while two others were shifted in private vehicles.
