A devastating fire that broke out at a bed-and-breakfast hotel in Delhi's Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday claimed at least 21 lives, including 11 foreigners. In the midst of the tragedy, a local mattress trader emerged as an unlikely hero, sacrificing goods worth nearly Rs 2 lakh to create a makeshift safety net that helped save several lives.
Quick Thinking Saves Lives
When thick smoke and flames engulfed the Flourish Stay hotel in the congested Hauz Rani area, Riyazuddin Mansuri, who runs a mattress shop opposite the hotel, rushed to the scene with his staff. Without hesitation, they spread dozens of quilts and mattresses on the ground outside the burning building, creating a cushion that allowed trapped residents to jump to safety.
Riyazuddin said they were the first to put out the mattresses, and by the time the fire brigade arrived, they had already saved eight lives. He and his son sustained minor injuries during the rescue operation.
Act of Humanity
Riyazuddin's son Arman recounted the events: 'I reached the spot after a neighbour informed me about the blaze at 8.30 am. The ground floor was on fire. Nobody could go inside or come out. People on the upper floors were shouting and asking if they should jump. I immediately brought out around 20 to 25 quilts and mattresses from the shop and spread them outside the building.'
The family, which has run the mattress shop for about four decades, stacked several quilts and mattresses on top of one another to ensure that people who jumped on them would not get hurt. 'Around eight people jumped onto them and were safe. Only a few suffered minor injuries,' Arman added.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as smoke filled the building. A woman jumped from the third floor with her child in her arms, while other occupants desperately searched for ways to escape. The mattresses provided a crucial safety net for some.
Riyazuddin reflected on his actions: 'I suffered about Rs 2 lakh loss. We also gave bedsheets that were used to bring out the dead bodies and the injured. We gave quilt covers. We gave away all our goods, whatever we could get our hands on. On the grounds of humanity, everyone is the same, whether Hindu or Muslim. We all are Hindustani. It was my duty to help our brothers, whether he is Hindu or Muslim.'
Fire and Rescue Operations
The fire, which broke out early Wednesday morning, rapidly spread through the hotel that largely catered to patients visiting nearby Max Hospital. Nineteen of the 35 injured remained in critical condition across hospitals in Delhi, according to officials. Emergency services arrived quickly and assisted in the rescue operation, with fire brigades working to bring the blaze under control.
Arman noted that had the fire not been contained in time, it could have affected his shop as well. 'Emergency services reached the spot quickly and assisted in the rescue operation. Everyone arrived on time and helped us a lot,' he said.
The incident has sparked discussions about fire safety in congested urban areas, with many praising the selfless act of Riyazuddin and his family as a shining example of humanity in the face of tragedy.
