A devastating fire that engulfed both a restaurant and hotel in eastern India claimed the lives of at least six individuals and left 20 others injured.

A significant fire ravaged a restaurant and hotel in eastern India on Thursday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least six lives and injuring 20 individuals, according to a statement from a local fire official.

The fire erupted when a cooking gas cylinder exploded during meal service at the restaurant, quickly spreading to the adjacent hotel in Patna, the capital of Bihar state, as detailed by Satya Prakash, the aforementioned fire officer.

Over 40 individuals were successfully rescued from the engulfed structures by firefighters utilizing over a dozen fire engines to quell the flames, Prakash added.

Situated in a densely populated area near Patna's railway station, the hotel suffered extensive damage, with numerous vehicles parked on the premises also consumed by the fire, Prakash noted.

He further disclosed that some hotel guests resorted to jumping from their room windows in a desperate attempt to escape, resulting in injuries. Additional particulars regarding the incident were not immediately available.

Instances of fires are unfortunately frequent in India, often attributable to violations of building regulations and safety standards by developers and residents alike.

Notably, in 2019, a fire sparked by an electrical short circuit engulfed a structure in the Indian capital, claiming the lives of 43 individuals. Similarly, in 2022, a fire erupted in a four-story commercial building in New Delhi, resulting in the loss of at least 27 lives.