India: Fire death toll rises to 21, including students

By Ahmad Adil

CHANDIGARH, India (AA) - The death toll from a massive fire Friday at a commercial complex in the western Indian city of Surat has risen to 21, most of them students in their teens, officials said.

"Seventeen more students have been admitted in several hospitals and are receiving treatment," YG Mehta, a senior disaster official in Surat, told Anadolu Agency.

Most of the fire’s victims are students around age 15-21. On Saturday, Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma said they arrested the owner of the tutoring center inside the complex where students and some teachers died, local daily The Hindu reported.

After the fire, local media reported that some students jumped from the burning building. Authorities have ordered an enquiry into the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter that he was extremely anguished by the tragedy.