Eight persons died in Telangana’s Secunderabad on Monday night after a fire broke out at an electric bike showroom’s charging unit and spread to a hotel above it, ANI reported. At least 13 persons were injured in the blaze.

The police said that several persons in the hotel fell unconscious because of the smoke emanating from the charging unit. At least five persons were charred while they were unconscious, the authorities said.

The fire started from the Ruby Motors showroom in the Monda Market area in Secunderabad and then spread to the Ruby Pride hotel.

Director General of Police SK Jain told The Indian Express that two of the deceased persons are from Chennai, while one is from Delhi and another is from Vijayawada. The authorities are yet to identify the rest of the victims.

The building was not fully compliant with fire safety norms, Jain said. Moreover, it was found to be 17.5 metres tall, despite having permission to construct up till 15 metres.

“The cellar is meant for parking,” Jain added. “Here it was being used for storing electric bikes. We are yet to know if they were being charged from here. The stairway from the cellar took the smoke to the whole building. As the lift stopped and smoke spread across, people didn’t know how to exit. There are no alternate exits available.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Zone) Chandana Deepthi said that 22 persons were staying at the hotel when the accident took place.

“The injured have been shifted to different hospitals,” she said. “Some of the people who tried to escape the fire jumped through the windows and were injured in the process.”

Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand said that the authorities suspect that either an e-bike or a generator exploded and led to the blaze. “The flames leapt up the staircase and soon engulfed the cellar, ground, first and second floors of the building,” he said. “More than the fire, it was the smoke that suffocated the tourists.”

Five fire department vehicles were rushed to the spot on receiving information about the incident. “We could save 10 people who were caught in the hotel rooms, while some others jumped out of the hotel to save themselves,” fire officer Mohan Rao ahead.

The police have registered a case against the owners of the building and the showroom under Sections 304 (causing death by negligence) and 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code, reported The Indian Express.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he was saddened by the loss of lives and offered condolences to the families of those who died. He announced that Rs 2 lakh each would be paid from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the relatives of those who died, while Rs 50,000 each would be paid to those who sustained injuries.

Telangana Minister of Municipal Administration KT Rama Rao also condoled the loss of lives and said the state government will offer Rs 3 lakh as ex-gratia to the families of the deceased.