NOIDA: Two people lost their lives after a fire broke out in a residential building in Noida's Phase-3 area on Wednesday, allegedly triggered by sparks from an electric vehicle (EV) battery being charged on the ground floor.

Police have registered an FIR against the building owner/leaseholder and taken the accused into custody.According to police, the incident occurred on July 15 in a G+4 residential building located in Gali No. 2 of Mamura under the Phase-3 police station limits. A preliminary investigation suggests that an electric vehicle battery caught fire while being charged on the ground floor. The sparks allegedly ignited nearby petrol-powered vehicles, causing the blaze to spread rapidly through the lower portion of the building and generating heavy smoke.After receiving the information, the Fire Service rushed seven fire tenders, a hydraulic platform, and senior fire officials, including the Chief Fire Officer, to the spot. Local police also joined the rescue operation.The building housed around 50 families. Firefighters and police launched an extensive evacuation drive and safely rescued all the residents trapped inside the smoke-filled building. However, two occupants became critically ill after inhaling smoke.

The victims were immediately shifted to the District Hospital by ambulance, where doctors declared them dead. Police identified the deceased as one man and one woman. Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.Police said a case has been registered against the building owner/leaseholder under relevant provisions of law for alleged negligence. The accused has been taken into custody, and further legal proceedings are underway.Officials are also examining whether the building complied with mandatory fire safety norms and whether charging an EV battery in the parking area violated prescribed safety guidelines. The exact cause of the fire will be established after the forensic examination and the fire department's investigation.