A fire broke out in a godown on the top floor of a five-storeyed building adjoining the primary wing of Nava Nalanda school in Lake Gardens around 5pm on Tuesday.
The residents of the locality were panic-stricken as thick black fumes filled the area.
Six fire tenders managed to bring the fire under control around 6.10pm. Police said those who were inside the godown could be evacuated immediately
No one was injured.
The school was shut and the road was relatively empty when some residents spotted flames coming out of the godown’s rooftop cover.
Firefighters used hydraulic ladders to reach the top floor of the building before breaking down a portion of the godown’s wall to reach the seat of fire. Some residents of a few houses adjoining the one on fire had by then stepped out fearing that the blaze might spread.
The police had to cordon off the road to ensure firefighting activity was not hampered as the crowd began to swell.
“After the flames were completely doused, the godown was sealed. A forensic team will visit the spot on Wednesday to collect samples,” said an officer.
“The godown belongs to a person who has a grocery shop on the ground floor of the building.”