A tragic fire broke out in the basement of a guest house in Neemrana, Alwar district, in the early hours of Thursday, resulting in one fatality and injuries to five others. The incident has cast a pall over the industrial town and highlighted the perils of electrical faults in residential accommodations.
Timeline of a Tragedy
The alarm was raised around 2:51 AM on Thursday when a suspected short circuit ignited a blaze in the basement of Jai Guest House, located in Yaduvanshi Colony near Hero Chowk. At the time, six men were asleep in the basement, trapped by the rapidly spreading fire and smoke.
Police confirmed that Pintu Kumar, 33, a resident of Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, succumbed to a combination of suffocation and severe burns. Another labourer, Jagdish, 33, from Sanchore, suffered critical burn injuries and was subsequently referred to a hospital in Jaipur for advanced treatment.
Heroic Rescue and Aftermath
The first responders to the horrific scene were not firefighters but two alert police constables on patrol. Constables Satnam Singh and Dharmpal, who were patrolling towards the highway, rushed to the guest house upon noticing the emergency.
In a display of exceptional bravery, Constable Satnam Singh risked his own life to enter the smoke-filled basement and helped rescue the injured occupants. His timely action was crucial in preventing further loss of life. The injured were immediately sent to a nearby hospital for medical attention.
Following the police, the fire department arrived at the spot with a vehicle under the command of Fire Officer Meghraj Yadav. The team worked swiftly to bring the flames under control and prevent the fire from engulfing the entire structure.
Condition of the Victims and Investigation
Of the six victims, the condition of four required hospitalisation. Apart from the deceased Pintu Kumar and critically injured Jagdish, two others are undergoing treatment. Govind Kumar, 36, from Patna, Bihar, and Gopi, 30, from Gorakhpur, UP, are currently admitted to Manohar Hospital in Neemrana.
Two other individuals, Sukhram, 39, from Delhi, and Bhairaram, 33, from Sanchore, were fortunate to escape with less serious injuries. They received initial treatment and were discharged from the hospital.
Neemrana police station incharge Rajesh Kumar Meena provided these details and added that the guest house is operated by Mahavir Yadav, a resident of Rewari district in Haryana. While the primary cause is believed to be a short circuit, authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident to ascertain if any negligence contributed to the tragedy.
This unfortunate event serves as a grim reminder of the importance of fire safety measures, especially in buildings providing temporary accommodation. It also underscores the bravery of frontline police personnel who often act as first responders in such crises.
