India, July 20 -- LUCKNOW A swift response by the fire department helped avert a major disaster after a fire broke out on the fourth floor of Jawahar Bhawan on Monday morning. Firefighters reached the government complex within four minutes of receiving the distress call and launched a coordinated operation by surrounding the building like a ring from multiple directions to contain the blaze before it could spread.

The control room received the fire call at 9:53am, following which two fire tenders, a water bowser and a multi-disaster response vehicle (MDRV), were rushed from the Hazratganj fire station, said chief fire officer Ankush Mittal, who was among those who reached the spot immediately.

By the time the first responders arrived, f...