Goa, Oct. 24 -- A fire erupted at a 13-storey commercial building in Jogeshwari on Thursday morning, leaving 17 people suffering from suffocation, officials reported.

The incident occurred at the JNS Business Center near Gandhi School around 10:50 am. Thick black smoke was seen billowing across the building's glass facade, causing panic among occupants and passersby.

Nine of those affected were admitted to the nearby HBT Hospital for treatment, while eight others chose to be discharged against medical advice, a civic official said.

Firefighters have contained the blaze from all sides, and dousing operations are still underway to ensure complete safety, authorities added.

No casualties have been reported so far, and the cause of the fi...