Real heroes showed their courage during the AMRI Hospital fire
KOLKATA: Fire incident AMRI Hospital that claimed over 80 lives also brought to the fore the undying human spirit and threw up courageous people who staked their lives to save people whom they had never met before.
On Friday morning when the blaze struck the basement of the hospital annexe building toxic fumes quickly spread to the other floors, trapping hundreds of people, Babu Mondol, Ajoy Pal and Ashok Razak took charge.
The trio have become local icons in Panchanantala – the area next to the fateful AMRI Hospital – but they regret they would never forget the faces of those whom they couldn’t help.
“I have heard that officials are saying that fire broke out at 3.30 am, but the fact is that fire broke out at 2 am because we could see smoke coming out of the hospital. We tried to alert the guards but they abused us,” said a witness.
Around 3.00 am the smoke turned thicker.
“When the black smoke started coming out, we along with some of our relatives alerted the guards. They said they will take care of it and asked us to go. But I along with my friends started pelting stones at the glass windows so that the smoke could come out,” witness added.
Most of the patients were rescued by the local youths.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee West Bengal has lauded the local youths for the selfless job they did.
