Delhi Police's Swift Response Prevents Major Disaster in Central Delhi Hotel Blaze
In a dramatic early morning operation, Delhi Police personnel averted what could have been a major tragedy by rescuing five individuals and evacuating several others from a burning hotel in Central Delhi's Paharganj area on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Hotel Pallavi Palace on Arakashan Road, where a fire reportedly sparked by an electrical short circuit broke out around 3 am, quickly engulfing the ground-floor reception area.
Proactive Police Intervention Saves Lives
According to Anant Mittal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Central Delhi, the police response was remarkably swift. "Even before a formal PCR call was logged at 3:12 am, our team from Nabi Karim police station had already reached the spot following a telephonic alert from a member of the public," Mittal stated. This proactive approach proved crucial in preventing loss of life.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the ground floor completely engulfed in flames, with dense smoke rapidly filling all 18 rooms of the four-storey establishment. The main entrance was blocked by fire, making conventional evacuation impossible and trapping guests on the upper floors.
Innovative Rescue Strategy Employed
Faced with this dangerous situation, the police team devised an unconventional rescue plan. "Assessing the danger, the police team devised an alternative rescue strategy," explained DCP Mittal. Constables Feru, Sanjay and Mukul entered the adjoining Hotel Chanchal, climbed to its rooftop, and crossed over to the roof of the burning hotel to access trapped guests.
The rescue operation involved multiple challenging scenarios:
- Three guests were found stranded on a balcony, separated from the neighboring hotel by an iron grill and glass barrier. With flames approaching, police broke through the obstruction and safely moved the guests to the adjacent balcony.
- Two guests sleeping in a second-floor room were rescued after police broke open their door.
- Eight additional individuals were evacuated from the third and fourth floors through the adjacent building.
Coordinated Emergency Response
The rescue operation involved extensive coordination between multiple agencies. Eleven fire tenders from the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) were deployed to combat the blaze, while the Station House Officer (SHO) of Nabi Karim police station coordinated closely with DFS personnel, PCR vans, and ambulance services.
Three guests sustained injuries during the incident. One suffered approximately 60% burn injuries, while two others received minor burns. All injured individuals were brought down through the adjacent building, administered first aid, and promptly rushed to hospital for treatment.
The fire, which took several hours to completely extinguish, has prompted an investigation into its exact cause. Police officials confirmed that while the initial assessment points to an electrical short circuit, a thorough examination is underway to determine all contributing factors.
This incident highlights the critical importance of rapid emergency response and innovative problem-solving in life-threatening situations. The Delhi Police's quick thinking and coordinated action with other emergency services prevented what could have been a far more devastating outcome in one of Delhi's densely populated commercial areas.
