Panic gripped people as a restaurant in a mall here caught fire on Monday. Acting promptly, the massively short staffed fire department rescued over 50 people with the help of police and others.
Around noon, the fire broke out in a part of the Moti Mahal restaurant on the third floor of Ansal Plaza mall in Palam Vihar area adjoining Delhi.
"Two fire tenders were pressed into service. It took more than an hour to control the flames," said a fire official.
"There were women and children among the visitors as it was lunch time. All, including visitors and staff, were rescued with the help of police and other employees in the building."
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
A major chunk of fire brigade employees has been striking work for the last one week and hence the department was facing an acute staff shortage, said the official.
Gurugram's five fire stations have just 17 staff (who are permanent) as some 135 casual or temporary employees have been on strike.
"We had a tough time dousing the flames on Monday due to staff shortage," said the official.
--IANS
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