1st LD Writethru: 12 killed in major fire in India's Mumbai

NEW DELHI, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people have been killed and four others injured in a major fire at a shop in India's financial capital Monday, police said.

"The blaze started at Bhanu Farsan shop on Khairani Road in Mumbai's Saki Naka-Kurla area this morning and it soon engulfed the huge stock of eatables and furniture, trapping several workers there," a senior police official said.

The fire spread very quickly and within minutes it gutted the entire shop and brought down its structure. "While 12 people died on the spot, those injured have been rushed to a local hospital by firefighters and rescuers of the local civic body," he said.

Some six workers are still feared trapped under the debris of the shop, the official said, adding that the fire has now been extinguished.

Local TV channels showed footage of at least six fire tenders being pressed into action and also rescuers trying their best to scout through the debris of the collapsed structure looking for any survivor.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official added. Enditem