A fire broke out at Annapurna Girls’ Hostel in Greater Noida’s Knowledge Park-3, triggering panic as flames rapidly engulfed parts of the building. The blaze, caused by an air conditioner explosion, sent thick smoke billowing from the windows as terrified residents scrambled to escape.

Eyewitnesses described terrifying moments as students scrambled to safety. “We suddenly heard a loud bang, and within seconds, smoke started filling the corridors,” recounted one resident who wished to remain anonymous. “Everyone started running for the exits, shouting and calling for help.”

The most dramatic moments came when two students found themselves trapped on the second floor, cut off by the rapidly spreading fire on Thursday evening. Quick-thinking locals immediately sprang into action, procuring a ladder to assist in their rescue. In a heart-stopping moment captured by bystanders, one of the girls fell approximately 10 feet while attempting to reach the ladder, landing hard on the ground below. Miraculously, fire officials later confirmed she sustained only minor bruises and was declared out of danger after a medical examination.

Fire department teams arrived within 15 minutes of receiving the distress call. “Our personnel worked swiftly to contain the blaze and ensure all students were accounted for,” said Chief Fire Officer Pradeep Kumar Choubey. “By the time we arrived, most residents had already evacuated thanks to the efforts of local residents.”

Authorities have launched a thorough investigation into the incident, with preliminary findings pointing to an electrical malfunction in the AC unit. The hostel management has come under scrutiny for fire safety compliance, particularly regarding emergency exits and fire extinguisher availability.

While no serious injuries were reported, the incident has raised serious questions about safety standards in student accommodations across the rapidly developing educational hub of Greater Noida. Local officials have promised stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations in the wake of the near-tragedy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Myanmar and Thailand following a powerful earthquake that struck the region earlier today, causing significant casualties and structural damage. The tremors were also felt in several Indian cities, including Kolkata and Imphal.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi conveyed his concern and assured assistance. “Deeply concerned by the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and well-being of all affected. India stands ready to provide all possible support,” he stated.

The Prime Minister added that he had directed Indian authorities to remain on standby and instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to maintain close contact with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand for coordinated relief efforts.

The 7.7 magnitude quake hit central Myanmar at 12:50 PM (local time), with its epicenter located 16 km northwest of Sagaing at a depth of 10 km, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). A strong 6.8-magnitude aftershock followed, exacerbating the damage.

A state of emergency has been imposed in six regions of Myanmar following a major 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city. The quake caused widespread damage and sent tremors across the region, including neighboring Thailand where buildings collapsed in Bangkok.

In Thailand’s capital, the earthquake caused panic as high-rise buildings swayed violently. A multi-story building under construction near the popular Chatuchak market collapsed completely, with the dramatic moment captured on video showing the structure crumbling into a cloud of dust as bystanders ran for safety. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many workers were trapped in the rubble, but police warned residents to remain outside due to potential aftershocks.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos. A Scottish tourist shopping in a Bangkok mall recounted how people screamed and ran in panic as the building shook. A British visitor at a streetside bar described seeing a high-rise building swaying dangerously, with water spilling from a rooftop pool. Public transportation systems were shut down as thousands evacuated to parks and open areas across the city.

Near the epicenter in Myanmar, the historic royal palace in Mandalay sustained damage. A 90-year-old bridge collapsed in the Sagaing region, while highways connecting major cities were damaged. In the capital, Naypyitaw, religious shrines and homes were partially destroyed. While no casualties were immediately reported in Yangon, residents fled their homes as the ground shook.

The earthquake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, was also felt in China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, where some buildings were damaged and injuries reported near the Myanmar border.

Following Sunrisers Hyderabad’s five-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025, SRH’s destructive wicket-keeper batsman Heinrich Klaasen has defended team’s batting depth, saying team doesn’t rely solely on Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma duo.

Travishek, a standout pair from SRH’s IPL 2024 campaign with 736 runs across 16 innings, couldn’t deliver as expected on March 27. Abhishek fell early in the third over, and although Head managed a quick 47 off 28 balls, SRH’s total of 190 fell short on a batting-friendly Hyderabad pitch.

Dismissing the team’s overdependence on Travishek, Klassen acknowledged that Travishek’s aggressive starts put early pressure on opponents, easing the job for the middle order.

 “Not at all,” Klaasen said during the post-match press conference. “If we look at our batting lineup, we are destructive till batter No.8. We don’t need Travis and Abhishek to come off every time. We’re good enough to score without them as well,” he said.

“You will never have a season where both of them will score more than 1000 runs. It’s the way we play—a bit on the riskier side,” Klaasen added.

SRH, who batted first, were restricted to 190 despite good intent shown early on. Klaasen felt the score was underwhelming considering the surface.

“We didn’t score enough runs. 210-220 was par score. One or two unlucky dismissals hurt us. One was caught down the leg side, another was deflected onto the stumps off the bowler’s hand. But that’s part of the game,” he said.

The wicketkeeper-batter remains confident in SRH’s depth and ability to recover from setbacks. The team is set to take on Delhi Capitals in their next match on March 30 in Vizag.