India, Oct. 17 -- A fire engulfed a three-storey house in Ghaziabad's Pratap Vihar early Thursday, with five fire tenders taking nearly two-and-a-half hours to bring it under control, officials said. All 10 members of the family managed to escape safely.

Residents of the gutted house, who were set to host a wedding in 10 days, claimed that they suffered a loss of around Rs.2.5 crore as their entire house, all cash and jewellery and other valuables were charred in the fire, which is believed to have been sparked by a short circuit in an electricity board near the entrance gate.

The family later alleged that the fire tenders reached the scene an hour after they alerted the fire department.

Fire officials, however, rejected the allegation...