A fire official walks carrying one of the barrels suspected to contain chemicals outside a multi-storied residential building where a fire broke out in Hyderabad, around 500 kilometers from Maharashtra, India, Nov 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

NEW DELHI - At least seven people of a family were killed early Wednesday in a massive fire that broke out inside a tailoring shop in India's western state of Maharashtra, police said.

The fire broke out in Dana Bazar area of Aurangabad cantonment, about 327 km northeast of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.

The fire started in the shop, and the residents lived on the upper floors of the building. Although the fire did not reach the upper floor, it was suspected that the victims may have succumbed due to smoke inhalation, the police officer said

"We had an information that a fire broke out in a tailoring shop at around 4:00 am local time, creating panic in the neighborhood. Firefighters rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the blaze, but seven people died in the fire by then," a police officer said.

The fire started in the shop, and the residents lived on the upper floors of the building. Although the fire did not reach the upper floor, it was suspected that the victims may have succumbed due to smoke inhalation, the police officer said.

According to police, the deceased were identified as a 50-year-old woman, her two young sons, their wives and two kids.

Preliminary investigations suggested the fire started from an electric bike plugged in for charging and spread to the shop.

Police registered a case and ordered an investigation.