Ghaziabad Fire: Woman Rescued by House Help After AC Explosions
In a harrowing incident in Ghaziabad, a 65-year-old woman, Usha, was rescued by her house help, Puna Ram (28), after a fire broke out in a neighboring commercial building. The blaze, which began at Gaur Biz business park, threatened to engulf her flat in Gaur Green Avenue. The fire was so intense that it caused multiple AC outdoor units to explode one after another.
Usha, who lives alone in flat E-101 while her two sons work in Thailand, recounted the terrifying experience. She said the night started with her watching TV, but soon smoke began seeping into her flat, making her feel suffocated. She asked Puna Ram to investigate. From the drawing room balcony, he saw flames rising from the commercial building and spreading upward.
The Heroic Rescue
Puna Ram acted swiftly. He first helped Usha evacuate the flat and took her downstairs to safety. Then, despite the danger, he returned to the flat to fight the fire. He connected a pipe and began spraying water continuously to prevent the flames from reaching the flat. “Several AC outdoor units installed near the bank on the ground floor exploded one by one. I kept throwing water so the fire would not surround the flat. I was scared I might lose my life, but thankfully, both the flat and I were saved,” Ram said.
He battled the blaze for over 90 minutes, until around midnight, when firefighters arrived and joined the operation. By then, the society’s maintenance team had also started using hosepipes to contain the spread.
Damage and Evacuation
Not every home was spared. Flat E-201 suffered extensive damage. The tenant was away at the time and later found the hall and bedroom badly affected, with furniture, curtains, and an AC gutted. Usha mentioned that he had returned from Uttarakhand just when the fire broke out. Residents of E-203 also rushed out with their children after learning about the blaze. “All family members went outside the tower,” resident Sanjeev Singh said, adding that this was the second fire incident at the society, though this time the blaze originated in the commercial building.
Sudhanshu Tiwari, general manager (planning) at Gaur Group, said residents of Tower E were asked to evacuate to prevent injuries. “Everyone is safe, though some flats were damaged. Our team is assessing the losses,” he added. Vikash Kumar, maintenance head, also said the society team began spraying water as soon as they learnt of the fire to stop it from spreading into the residential complex.
