Head Constable Dinesh Yadav of the Delhi Police displayed remarkable courage and quick thinking when he rescued two Nigerian nationals from a burning hotel in South Delhi. Yadav, who sustained injuries including stitches and burn marks on his hands and feet during the operation, recounted the harrowing experience in an interview.
Heroic Rescue Amidst Chaos
Yadav was on duty at the Malviya Nagar police station when he received the distress call. He immediately proceeded to the scene on his motorcycle, but encountered a dense crowd that impeded his progress. Abandoning his vehicle, he ran on foot towards the hotel as the fire had already engulfed the building, making access from the front impossible.
The Chenab Times has learned that Yadav noticed two women signaling for help from a small bathroom window on the side of the building. Facing a critical situation with no time to spare, he procured a ladder and climbed up. He attempted to break the window with his bare hands, sustaining injuries in the process, before a hammer was provided by someone nearby. Using the hammer, he managed to break the glass, further injuring his hands in the process.
Navigating Danger to Save Lives
Despite the risk and his injuries, Yadav squeezed through the small, broken window and entered the bathroom. Inside, he found two Nigerian women, one of whom was a patient and the other her caretaker. Thick smoke had already begun to fill the room as the women had turned on the shower in a desperate attempt to shield themselves from the heat and smoke.
Yadav faced the challenge of evacuating the patient, who was described as a heavy woman, through the narrow opening. The incident highlights the bravery of not only Yadav but also other locals and police personnel who risked their lives to save guests trapped in the inferno. Reports indicate that local residents spread mattresses on the road below to cushion the fall of those jumping from upper floors, and police personnel, including Yadav, worked to cut through window grills to reach trapped individuals.
The fire, which occurred at the Flourish B&B in the Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar, resulted in multiple casualties, with initial reports suggesting that many of the victims were foreign nationals. The cause of the fire and the hotel’s safety compliance are under investigation, with an FIR registered for culpable homicide. The owner of the establishment has been detained.
The rescue operation involved numerous individuals, including a group of eleven cousins from the neighborhood and ten Delhi Police personnel, several of whom also sustained injuries from smoke inhalation and exposure. Their collective efforts underscore the spirit of community and duty in the face of a major disaster.
The Chenab Times News Desk