BHUBANESWAR: As many as five persons, including four of a family died of asphyxiation as fire broke out in a three-storeyed building at Buddheswari colony in Bhubaneswar in the wee hours on Thursday.

The fire reportedly broke out in the second floor of the house of renowned hotelier Satpal Singh at about 3.30 am when everybody in the building was asleep. The deceased have been identified as Satpal’s younger son Gaganpal singh 40, daugher-in-law Bhavana 38, grand daughter Suhabi singh (15), grandson Rubi singh (8) and maid Khusi das (15).

Six others of the family, including Satpal, his wife, elder son Harmanpal, daugher-in-law and two grandchildren who were in ground and first floor of the building, escaped as fire fighting personnel rescued them.

A fire official said they got a call at 5.18 am and rushed to the spot with two fire tenders. “When we arrived there we saw huge smoke emanating from the building. As the house was centrally locked entered into it by breaking the glass windows in the first floor. We rescued all alive, but five of them died of asphyxiation later,” he said.

Though exact cause of the fire mishap was yet to be ascertained, the official informed that false ceilings and wooden planks aggravated fire. “We suspect an electric short circuit could have triggered the fire. Further investigation is on,” he added.

Sources said people on ground floor and security guards could not notice the fire and it was neighbours and onlookers who informed the PCR, who in turn, called fire officers.