Paharganj hotel fire: How 70 firefighters braved smoke and flames in daring rescue operation to save 8 lives

NEW DELHI: In a dramatic rescue operation, eight people were evacuated from two adjoining hotels in central Delhi's Paharganj early on Thursday after a devastating blaze ripped through one of them.

Three of those rescued suffered burn injuries and are in hospital.




Police were alerted at 3am about the blaze that broke out at the reception on the ground floor of Hotel Pallavi Palace, which runs out of a four-storey building on Arakashan Road.

A team of firefighters and personnel from Nabi Karim police station rushed to the spot and heard frantic cries for help of those trapped inside. By then, the fire had already engulfed the entire building and thick smoke filled the 18-room hotel, trapping some guests and making evacuation extremely challenging.

The main entrance was completely blocked by the fire, preventing rescuers from making a direct entry, deputy commissioner of police (central) Anant Mittal said. After quickly assessing all options, they decided that the only way to safely evacuate those trapped while minimising risk to the rescuers was to enter the building from the adjoining hotel.

"Constables Feru, Sanjay, and Mukul went to the rooftop of the adjoining building," the DCP said. The flames were nearly licking this hotel as well. The cops spotted three guests trapped on the fourth-floor balcony of this building, trying to escape, but an iron grill and glass barrier had boxed them in. "We assured them they will be evacuated," one of the constables said. Within minutes, the team smashed through the barriers and brought down the three safely.

The daring operation entered a dangerous phase when the rescuers set foot on the terrace of Pallavi Palace. Inside, screams echoed through its smoke-filled corridors. The rescuers quickly made it to the second floor and found three people — all with varying degrees of burns. They were carefully carried back to the terrace and then to the adjoining hotel. After receiving medical attention on the spot, they were rushed to hospital in ambulances. One of them suffered 60% burn injuries — he is critical — and the two others 10% burn injuries.

In another part of the second floor of Pallavi Palace, the rescuers found two guests, who were still asleep in their rooms, unaware of the danger. The doors were broken open and they were safely evacuated. A thorough check of the rest of the rooms in the hotel was conducted to ensure no one was left behind.

The blaze, suspected to have been triggered by an electrical short circuit in the reception, was doused by 70 firefighters at around 4.30am.