Lucknow Youth's Daring Balcony Climb Averts Major Apartment Fire Disaster
A potentially catastrophic fire was narrowly avoided in Lucknow on Friday afternoon. This dramatic event unfolded at a residential apartment under the Basant Kunj Housing Scheme near Prerna Sthal in Thakurganj.
Fire Erupts in Locked Flat
The fire started in Flat No 22 on the first floor of Block-39. This is a four-storey building where an e-rickshaw driver named Saddam lives with his wife Farheen and their son Anjala.
At the time of the incident, Saddam had gone out for work. Farheen and the child were visiting relatives in the neighborhood. This left the flat completely locked and empty.
Residents reported that smoke began billowing from the closed flat around 3:30 pm. Neighbors immediately noticed the danger and raised a loud alarm.
Within minutes, thick smoke spread rapidly across the building. Panic ensued as residents from nearby flats rushed outside to save themselves.
Heroic Rescue Action
As chaos unfolded, a young man named Siraj took decisive action. Siraj lives in the flat directly below the burning apartment.
Risking his own life, Siraj climbed up to the balcony of the burning flat from the outside. He used a makeshift water pipe connected from below to douse the flames.
His swift and courageous intervention brought the fire under control quickly. This prevented the flames from spreading further or causing any fatalities.
Aftermath and Investigation
Due to Siraj's timely efforts, the fire brigade was informed that the situation was under control. They did not need to proceed further into the locality.
Saddam later returned to find his home devastated. He stated that nearly all household belongings were destroyed.
"Clothes, bedding, wooden furniture, cots and other essentials were completely reduced to ashes. Nothing was left," Saddam said. The family suffered heavy financial losses from the incident.
Siraj believes the fire was likely caused by a short circuit inside the locked flat. The exact cause is still under investigation.
Viral Recognition
During the rescue operation, a bystander recorded a video of Siraj climbing the balcony and extinguishing the flames. This video quickly went viral on social media platforms.
Residents praised Siraj's presence of mind and bravery. His actions prevented what could have been a much larger disaster in the residential complex.
