Two women hailing from Sikkim died in a fire that broke out at a building at a shopping complex at Surat in Gujarat on Wednesday evening.

The deceased are Benu Hungma Limboo, 30, a resident of Uttaray and Manisha, 24, a resident of Rongli. They were among the five employees of a spa in the building.

Chief minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) said that his government has reached out to its counterparts in Gujarat in order to make arrangements to bring the bodies to their home state.

“We have reached out to the Gujarat government and have directed our principal resident commissioner in Delhi to step in, ensuring that all necessary support and assistance are provided,” said Golay in a condolence message to the bereaved families.

Authorities suspect that the two women died of asphyxiation.

The spa was situated on the third floor of the building where the fire broke out.

The building was located in a popular market complex situated at City Light Road in Surat.

Sources added that fire personnel from neighbouring areas of Majura, Vesu and Katodara reached the spot but faced difficulty in reaching the spa as the entire second and third floors of the building were engulfed in smoke.

There were five staff members in the shop. Sources said that while three employees managed to escape, Benu and Manisha were left behind on the premises.

When the fire authorities finally managed to reach the place, the two women were found in a serious condition at the spa’s bathroom with their faces severely burnt.

They later succumbed to their injuries.

Bangladeshi duo

Troops of the sixth battalion of the Border Security Force (BSF) posted at Tarun border outpost in Cooch Behar district on Wednesday intercepted two Bangladeshis, Md. Mohor Ali of Lalmonirhat and Manotosh Biswas of Dhaka. They were allegedly trying to infiltrate India. As they were frisked, some Indian currency and two phones were recovered from them.