Noida: Five employees trapped inside a gym were rescued after a major fire broke out at the facility in Greater Noida West. Firefighters broke a glass pane to evacuate the trapped persons and brought the flames under control.Fire officials received information around 8am that a fire had broken out on the second floor of Mahavir Plaza in Sector 1. Firefighters first rescued the trapped people and then began firefighting efforts. Thick smoke had spread throughout the building by then, making it difficult for the fire personnel to enter and reach the source of the flames.To ensure that water could reach the fire with sufficient pressure, firefighters broke the glass windows of the gym and sprayed water directly inside. The blaze was brought under control in around 30 minutes. No injuries were reported.Chief fire officer (CFO) Pradeep Kumar said the fire may have originated in the gym’s changing room, but the exact cause has not been established. Officials said they are investigating whether the fire was triggered by a short circuit or whether a cigarette may have been discarded in the changing room.Residents said more than 100 people visit the gym on a daily basis. At the time of the incident, however, there were only a few people present. When smoke began emerging from the changing room, those exercising inside managed to move out of the premises. Gym employees attempted to control the fire themselves but became trapped amid the dense smoke.The gym also did not have valid no objection certificates (NOC) from the district sports department or the fire department, officials said, adding that they will examine whether the gym was being operated in violation of fire safety and other prescribed norms.
