The fire engulfed the third and fourth floor of a Taxshila Arcade in Sarthana area.

Nineteen people, mostly students, were killed after a building in Surat caught fire today afternoon. The students studying in a coaching centre died and many were seen jumping off the multi-storey building in Surat that caught fire. The fire engulfed the third and fourth floor-- where the coaching centre ran-- of a Takshashila Arcade in Sarthana area of Surat, officials said. There were 120 students registered in the coaching class. Nineteen fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms were pressed into service to douse the flames and for rescue operations, an official at the Surat fire control room said. Television footage showed students jumping off the third and fourth floors of the building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted about the incident: "Extremely anguished by the fire tragedy in Surat. My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected."

Here are the updates from the fire in Surat's Takshashila Complex:

May 24, 2019 19:44 (IST) NDTV has been informed that the owners of the Takshashila Arcade in Surat are on the run.

May 24, 2019 19:39 (IST) Footage of the fire incident in Surat showed people trying to grab a large banner on the side of the building as they plummeted down. Footage of the fire incident in Surat showed people trying to grab a large banner on the side of the building as they plummeted down.

May 24, 2019 19:21 (IST) Union Health Minister JP Nadda has spoken to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani regarding the fire at a coaching centre in Surat, assuring all help, news agency ANI said. The Union Minister has also directed the AIIMS trauma centre director to render all help. It was also reported that a team of doctors from the burn and trauma department of AIIMS Delhi has been constituted and put on alert.

May 24, 2019 19:19 (IST) Around 10 students on the fourth and third floor jumped off to the ground to save themselves from fire and smoke, news agency Press Trust of India quoted a fire official.

May 24, 2019 19:14 (IST) The fire that broke out in Surat's Takshashila Arcade has been doused.

May 24, 2019 19:13 (IST) Navsari lawmaker CR Patil told NDTV that the building which caught fire had no fire exit, adding that the fourth floor of the Takshashila Arcade - where the coaching centre was located - was an illegal construction.

May 24, 2019 19:13 (IST) Surat MP Darshana Jardosh told NDTV that some of those who jumped off the building to escape the fire are seriously injured and have been admitted in hospital, adding that two are critical.