In a harrowing incident in western India’s Maharashtra, a woman managed to rescue her family as a massive fire broke out in their fifth-floor apartment.

The incident took place at Ivy Estate’s Botanica Society.in Wagholi area of Pune district on November 2.

Visuals showed thick smoke pouring from the balcony as flames blazed through the living room, reducing its interiors to ash. The devastating blaze consumed everything in sight, while distressed residents and locals looked on helplessly as smoke billowed out.

According to reports, five family members were asleep in the apartment when the fire broke out. A senior citizen, who was in the living room, noticed the smoke and raised the alarm. The woman swiftly evacuated her children and guided the senior citizen to safety, averting a tragedy. One family member experienced breathlessness due to the intense smoke, and the senior citizen sustained a minor injury.

The fire, which reportedly damaged the air conditioning system that exploded during the incident, was brought under control by fire brigade officials. Police personnel from the nearby Wagholi Police Station were on the scene to assess the damage, though the cause of the blaze remains undetermined.