Fire personnel braved both the blaze and Covid threat

Personnel from the fire department put themselves to enormous risk during their rescue operation that saved many Coronavirus patients at Swarna Palace Hotel. Although many people gathered at the spot on hearing the cries, none dared to enter the premises because of the fear of catching Covid-19.

Showing remarkable courage, fire personnel immediately plunged into action and rescued several patients.

District fire officer M. Srinivas Reddy, assistant district fire officer, A Sekhar, SFO Autonagar K. Ramesh and fire officer Srinath Reddy said that after first dousing the flames, they entered the building and started rescuing people inside.

They stated that it was only while shifting people struck inside that they realised they were Covid19 patients as they had tags and bands to their hands. This did not deter the officials from rescuing all 21 survivors.

The fire staff said that during the pandemic situation, the kith and kin of patients were treating their loved ones as untouchables. In contrast, the firefighters were without PPE kits and protective measures while going about the rescue operation.

The availability of two fire tenders located at the fire station barely one km from the hotel helped them reach within minutes.

In the meantime, four more fire tenders from Ajit Singh Nagar, Kotha Peta and Autonagar were rushed to the spot.

The fire was extinguished in around 30 minutes and they were able to contain the intensity of the mishap and property loss.

Fire authorities are now a worried lot as nearly 30 personnel and officers had taken part in the rescue operation. They had also physically handled

Covid-19 patients. There is a possibility that some of them may have contracted the virus due to prolonged exposure to the patients.