Ludhiana: A three-storeyed factory building caught fire and collapsed today killing three persons, including a fireman, while over fifteen others were feared trapped under the debris, police said. Some more firemen were among those trapped inside, they said. Firefighters were engaged in dousing the flames when the three-storeyed structure in Mushtaq Nagar here collapsed trapping 15-20 persons, police officials said.   

"Three bodies have been pulled out, out of which two have been identified," Ludhiana's Police Commissioner, R N Dhoke said. One of the bodies was a fire official, a police official said. Rescue operations were still on and could go on through the night. At least 15 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the fire while earth-moving machinery has been pressed into service to clear the debris as NDRF teams assisted by local authorities were engaged in a massive rescue operation.   

Senior district administration and police officials were present at the site.   Ambulances were also at the spot to rush injured persons to hospitals as and when they are pulled out from under the debris, an official said.