Tirupati: A major fire broke out in a chemistry laboratory at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) near Jangalapalli in Yerpedu mandal, Tirupati, on Monday afternoon, sparking panic among students and staff.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on the upper floors of a G+5 research building, where laboratory experiments involving around 3,500 different types of chemicals were underway. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the lab, sending thick smoke billowing across the premises.
Sources said the blaze started during routine testing in the lab and soon intensified, given the highly flammable nature of the chemicals stored there. Alarmed by the flames and smoke, IISER authorities swiftly acted to evacuate the students from the building.
Staff had a tough time navigating the dense smoke to rescue everyone safely, but they managed to get all students out without incident. Firefighters reached the spot after getting an alert from the IISER management. They managed to bring the fire under control and later confirmed that there were no casualties.
Further investigations are on to ascertain the cause of the fire and the extent of the damage.