Victim was trying to rescue people from a fire in Chandni Chowk
Victim was trying to rescue people from a fire in Chandni Chowk
It was an act of selfless bravery by 25-year old Wasim when he ran to the second floor of a building that had caught fire to switch off its electricity supply. Unfortunately, during the act, he himself came in contact with a live wire and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
Braveheart: Wasim. File Pic
On Tuesday night, the second floor of a building in congested Chandni Mahal locality near Jama Masjid had caught fire. According to the police, the floor was reportedly being used for making photo frames. "Drums full of chemicals used in the process had been kept in the rooms.
It seems that one of the labourers working there had thrown a burning cigarette near one of the drums which caught fire and exploded. Soon the entire floor was engulfed in fire. A labourer who was close to one of the drums was charred," said a police official.u00a0
The official added while the fire was raging on, Wasim happened to pass by on his scooter along with his brother-in-law. "He was returning home but when he noticed the fire, he stopped his scooter and rushed upstairs to disconnect the electricity. Though police personnel and fire officials tried to stop him, he ran upstairs and met with the accident," the official said.
Sources said Wasim used to run an electric shop in the area earlier but of late he had started dealing in real estate. He used to live in Rang Mahal area and is survived by wife and two children.
The fire officials said they had sent three fire tenders to the spot including a small fire engine which could go inside the narrow lane. Though the fire was doused in an hour, the officials said it claimed two lives.
Street problem
"Narrow streets in the congested areas like these pose a major problem for us when it comes to dousing fire as our fire engines cannot enter these places. As such we can't deploy fire fighting machinery and often have to send our men to the spot which leads to fatalities at times. During summer, the incidents of fire increase.
On Tuesday night alone, major fires were reported from around seven places in the Delhi," said a fire department official.
The official said most congested areas in Delhi, which pose a fire hazard, are Chandini Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Laxmi Nagar and PVC market in Mundka.u00a0 A few months ago, a fire had broken out near MCDs' Town Hall in which more than hundred fire tenders were put into service.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
