A fierce blaze tore through the bustling Krishna Apra Market Plaza in Noida’s Sector 18 on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, sending shoppers and workers into a frenzy as thick black smoke billowed from the shopping complex.

The fire, which broke out around midday, sparked panic as flames threatened to swallow the entire building, a key commercial hub in the city.

Eyewitness videos captured harrowing scenes: people scrambling out of exits, one man dangling from a window in a desperate bid to escape. Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shivhari Meena reported that fire crews and police raced to the scene within four minutes, quelling the blaze in just ten.

“It appears to be a short circuit,” Meena told reporters, noting that stranded individuals were rescued via hydraulic platforms and ladders.

The fire originated in a ground-floor shop, with smoke rapidly engulfing the multi-story structure, intensifying the chaos.

Several people, overcome by fumes, were hospitalized but are stable, doctors confirmed. The swift response averted a larger tragedy, yet the incident underscores safety concerns in Noida’s crowded markets as authorities probe the exact cause.