Smoke drove us away but we returned to help trapped guests
Times of India | 1 May 2025
12 It was a little after 7.30 pm on Tuesday when I heard screams and came running out. Suddenly, I found a hotel employee jumping from one of the upper floors and realised that the fire was engulfing the hotel. When a few of us tried to go up with the local OC in tow, we were forced to step out due to the fumes. We could not go beyond the first-floor entrance. We decided to go down and try rescuing people from outside.
I noticed a few employees and locals were removing gas cylinders from the kitchen. I have a feeling that if this was not done, the consequences would have been worse.
We decided to bring in ladders and place them on the ledges. This was how we could bring down Neha Agarwal from Odisha safely. We even tried to cut the grilles to try and rescue those trapped inside but failed.
When we saw that even the electric cutter from the fire brigade was taking time, we arranged for some hammers. Then we asked those trapped inside to push and shove the grille at the same time. One trapped inside was handed the equipment and asked to cut through the grille. It was after a few more anxious minutes that this grille could be prised open. Besides the person trapped there, we could rescue two others from the second floor using the same route.
Even when the rescue operation was on, I had an inkling that the smoke that was generated could choke more people than what meets the eye. That is why I stayed back. My suspicion turned into reality by 2.30 am when the bodies were brought out.