Delhi Shahdara fire tragedy: How doorbells and mattresses saved lives

NEW DELHI: While nine lives were lost in the inferno, a few residents of the building were saved --- some were providentially away from home, two sisters jumped onto mattresses placed for them on the ground, and a handful were saved in the nick of time from the burning structure.

Archit, a 27-year-old businessman, woke up to flames and screams at 3.30 am. “We were completely blocked in. We tried to leave, but the doors had jammed, and we knew the stairs were full of smoke and flames. The heat was so intense that it felt like being inside a furnace. Thankfully, firefighters managed to raise a ladder to our balcony. I injured myself while climbing down, but I’m grateful to be alive,” said Archit, his arms wrapped in bandages and clothes torn and smelling of soot.

Among those who also made it out was Naveen Jain (48), a businessman who sustained 30% burns to his upper body, while his wife, Shikha (45), lost her life. Around nine hours after the blaze, as arrangements were being made for his transfer from GTB Hospital’s burns ICU to Safdarjung Hospital, Naveen was seen lying on a bed under the sun, waiting to be moved into an ambulance.

TOI observed chaotic scenes during his transfer from one stretcher to another, with staff struggling with his oxygen support. Family members alleged negligence on the part of GTB Hospital. A relative said, “Though he had burn injuries, he was exposed to heat and dust.”

TOI reached out to the hospital, but got no response to the allegations.

Naveen and Shikha’s daughters, Rakshika (22) and Priyal (18), survived by jumping onto a mattress, while Shikha’s mother, who was visiting them, escaped by rushing downstairs along with two domestic workers.

Mayank, who lives on the first floor of the building, woke up when a neighbour kept on pressing his doorbell. “I realised the upper floors were on fire. I just ran for my life,” he said.

Another resident, Ruchi Arora, stood outside the building even as the firefighters were wrapping up their operations. She was also one of those pulled to safety. “The firefighters led us out through the stairs while simultaneously dousing the flames,” she said.

Deepak Jain (37), a company secretary who works at his family firm in CP, had left for a Manesar resort on Saturday with his wife, Sonali (36), and their two children to celebrate five-year-old son Anant’s birthday. Instead of welcoming the rest of the family to the resort the next day, they had to rush back to a charred home in which five of their relatives perished.

Nitin and Shailey, a couple, died along with their son Samyak, while their younger son, 22-year-old Prasu, escaped the blaze. Having graduated just three days ago, Prasu was in Indore on a celebratory trip with friends.