Fire at Bagadiya Tower Ujjain: 10-15 trapped, rescue op underway
Synopsis
A fire at Bagadiya Tower in Ujjain trapped up to 15 people including women on Wednesday evening, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation. With thick smoke blocking escape routes for over two hours, residents were evacuated to rooftops and brought down by SDRF and fire brigade teams — but the cause of the blaze remains unknown.
Key Takeaways
A fire broke out at Bagadiya Tower in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday evening, 11 November 2026 .
An estimated 10 to 15 people , including women, were initially reported trapped inside the building.
More than 10 fire tenders were deployed; police, municipal corporation, and SDRF teams launched a joint rescue operation.
District Collector Roshan Singh and the Superintendent of Police arrived at the scene to oversee efforts.
Resident Poonam Chaurasia and four others were evacuated to the rooftop and brought down safely after nearly two hours .
The cause of the fire had not been determined and no official statement had been issued as of the last update.
A major fire broke out at Bagadiya Tower, a multi-storey residential building in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday evening, trapping an estimated 10 to 15 people, including women, inside the structure. A large-scale rescue operation involving police, the municipal corporation, and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was launched immediately, with senior officials rushing to the site.
What Happened at Bagadiya Tower
The fire broke out at the building located in the Purani Kotwali police station area of Ujjain city, sending thick smoke billowing through the corridors and near the elevator shafts, cutting off escape routes for residents. More than 10 fire tenders were deployed to battle the blaze, though firefighters continued to face difficulties even after nearly two hours of operations as smoke persisted.
District Collector Roshan Singh, the Superintendent of Police, and other senior district officials arrived at the scene to personally oversee the rescue efforts.
Survivors Recount the Ordeal
Among those rescued were Poonam Chaurasia and her son, residents of flat number 304 on the third floor. According to Chaurasia, she woke to find the area outside her flat and around the elevator filled with dense smoke, making breathing extremely difficult. She immediately called her husband in panic. A rescue team subsequently evacuated all five occupants from that floor to the rooftop, from where they were brought down safely after nearly two hours. She confirmed that everyone in her group was safe.
Eyewitness Prahlad Sharma told reporters at the site that he had gone to the third floor to attend a Garuda Purana programme when the fire broke out. He said he managed to descend using a long ladder provided by the fire brigade, but noted that women present at the programme were unable to use the ladder to climb down.
Scale of the Rescue Operation
The combined deployment of police personnel, SDRF teams, and municipal corporation workers reflects the seriousness of the incident. The rescue and firefighting operations were still continuing as of the last available update. This comes amid broader concerns about fire safety compliance in high-rise residential buildings across smaller Indian cities, where rapid construction has often outpaced regulatory oversight.
Cause and Official Statement Awaited
The cause of the fire had not been ascertained as of the time of this report. No official statement from the Ujjain district administration had been issued. Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of people evacuated or whether any injuries were recorded. Further details are expected once rescue operations conclude and officials issue a formal briefing.
Point of View
With smoke-filled elevator lobbies and absent or inaccessible fire exits forcing residents onto rooftops. The fact that women at the scene could not use a ladder to evacuate points directly to the absence of compliant emergency staircases. Madhya Pradesh, like many states, has fire safety norms on paper but enforcement in Tier-2 cities remains inconsistent. Until post-incident audits translate into actual compliance action, these emergencies will recur.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Ujjain building fire break out?
The fire broke out at Bagadiya Tower, a multi-storey building in the Purani Kotwali police station area of Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday evening, 11 November 2026.
How many people were trapped in the Ujjain fire?
According to initial reports, approximately 10 to 15 people, including women, were trapped inside the building. Five people from flat number 304 on the third floor were among those successfully evacuated to the rooftop and brought down safely.
Who is overseeing the rescue operation at Bagadiya Tower?
District Collector Roshan Singh, the Superintendent of Police, and other senior Ujjain district officials are on the spot overseeing the rescue. Teams from the police, municipal corporation, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively involved.
What caused the fire at Bagadiya Tower in Ujjain?
The cause of the fire had not been ascertained as of the last available update. No official statement from the Ujjain district administration had been issued, and investigations are expected to begin after the rescue operation concludes.
Were there any casualties in the Ujjain Bagadiya Tower fire?
No casualties had been officially confirmed as of the time of this report. Resident Poonam Chaurasia stated that all five people evacuated from her floor were safe, but authorities had not issued a comprehensive update on the status of all trapped individuals.
