Indore: Around 7.30 pm Free Press’ photographer Anand Shivre who was passing through MG Road witnessed thick smoke billowing out of Hotel Samrat. An alert Shivre swung into action and helped fire-fighters to rescue some of the hotel’s guests.
It was a “close brush” with death for 23 people who were staying at the hotel on Thursday evening when a major fire broke out there.
Around 7.30 pm the lights went off and the place plunged into darkness. Chaos prevailed when staff began running helter skelter to fetch for water buckets and the entire area was engulfed in thick smoke. Panicked guests, who tried to get away to safety were breathless and suffocating.
For most of the guests, including a 65-year-old Shanti Devi Jain, it was like seeing the shadow of death till Tukoganj Police Station in-charge Tehzeeb Qazi reached the spot and the rescue operations began. Fire-fighters and cops together carried out the rescue operations for over one-and-a-half hour.
According to in-charge of fire brigade Sub Inspector Santosh Dubey, “We received the fire information around 7:55 pm. The fire broke out in the store room of the hotel located on the ground floor near the reception and the smoke filled in the hotel due to closed ventilation.”
He said three fire tenders, masks and a team of about 15 people rescued the people stuck in the hotel. “Exact reason of the fire is yet to be known but prima facie it seems that short circuit is the reason. Fortunately, no casualty was reported except three people who were suffocated by the smoke,” Dubey said.
‘Had to jump from second floor’
Our of 23 people stuck in various rooms of the hotel, one Anuranjan Kumar, resident of Jharkhand, jumped out of the window of second floor after his room was invaded by the billowing smoke. He had checked into room no. 223 since Thursday morning with his two friends Manmohan Hardah from Jharkhand and Pramod Kumar, resident of Allahabad. Anuranjan also broke his hand in the process.
“The power supply had snapped suddenly and the hotel staff rushed in with buckets of water. Instead of informing us about the incident, the staff kept telling us that everything was fine,” he said adding, “Within a few minutes, smoke filled our room and we were almost trapped. We tried to scale down through the balcony and finally had to jump when the smoke became unbearable.” Anuranjan’s friend Pramod Kumar said, “Later, cops broke the window pane and took us out of the building with the help of fire brigade’s snorkel.”
Family stuck in room no. 561
The Jains from Tikamgarh, Anil (50), Anita (45), Shanti Devi (65), Prajwal (20) and Abhi Saraf (20) were staying in room no. 560 and 561 and were badly affected by the smoke. The condition of Shanti Devi and Anita Jain had deteriorated before being rescued by the cops and fire brigade.
Shanti Devi, Anil and Anita were admitted to MY Hospital. According to Anil Jain, “We had come to Indore for check up and treatment of Shanti Devi. We had checked in on Wednesday. We were terrified and thought everything was over, however, the timely intervention of cops saved us.”
Qazi injured in the incident
Police station in-charge Tehzeeb Qazi was severely injured while breaking a window pane. He was the first who scaled up through the ladder of fire brigade with two cops Sanjeev Dhakad and Rahul Jaat.
“We saved all the people stuck in the hotel successfully. I hurt my hand. Thankfully there were no casualties,” Qazi said. Meanwhile, CSP BPS Parihar said, “We will recommend the senior officials to award the brave cops who saved people.”
10 out of 48 rooms were booked
Out of 48 rooms in the hotel, 10 were booked. The hotel manager, Manohar, said, “Only ten rooms were booked and most of the people were out of the hotel. I saw the fire first and turned off the power while informing the staff and fire brigade.
Hotel owner gheraoed
After being rescued, guests gheraoed Manju, the owner of Hotel Samrat, and shouted on her for not maintaining fire-fighting gadgets handly. They were also irked with the “irresponsible” staffers. However, she tried to pacify them by saying that she had immediately informed the fire men after the blaze broke out.
Informed by outsiders
Anuranjan, who jumped out of the balcony said the staff didn’t alert him about the fire but his friend Manohar Joshi, who had come to meet them, informed them after reaching the hotel. “Manohar saw the fire at the ground floor while coming to meet us and informed us about the same,” Anuranjan said.
