A 23-year-old student died and five more were hospitalised after inhaling thick smoke from a devastating fire that started in the lower floor of the building, where there were taking civil services coaching classes.

Crackers were reportedly stocked for distribution as Diwali gifts among the employees of a private textile mill, which owned the building. Fire and smoke were noticed from a second floor room at around 4 pm, which spread to the cracker boxes, preliminary inquiry by police said.

Even as the flames from the fire went as high as 20 ft, the thick smoke emanating from it spread to the second and third floors, where a IAS Free Coaching Centre, run by the mills is functioning, they said.

Four fire tenders rushed to the spot and after spraying water to prevent the spread of fire to the nearby buildings and area, the personnel started operations to rescue the trapped students.

They managed to bring out six students, including two girls, who were admitted to the government hospital in an unconscious stage after smoke inhalation. A student, Shaktivel died on admission to the hospital, while others are undergoing treated.

Amid claims that there were no crackers there but huge quantity of wall paints in the building, police are investigating the real cause of the explosion, which shook the entire area.

Even as fire rescue operations were on, district collector T N Hariharan and other senior officials visited the spot.