Swift response of cops, firefighters minimises damage
LUCKNOW: Within 30 minutes after receiving information about fire in SSJ International and Viraat International hotels in Naka, police officials evacuated most of the guests. Their swift response in collaboration with that of the firefighters restricted the casualty count to six.
At least 90 guests were reported to be present inside the hotels when fire broke out on Tuesday morning.
The fire started from the basement of SSJ Hotel. Minutes later, sub-inspector (S-I) Vaibhav Kumar Singh of Naka police station was alerted after police control room received information about the incident. Kumar who was the night officer and patrolling in Rajendra Nagar, rounded up a small team and rushed to the spot to begin the rescue work. “Our priority was to evacuate the guests from the hotel because the flames were expanding to upper floors,” Kumar said.
While the S-I was figuring out ways to evacuate people, a team of fire fighters reached the spot. The fire fighters began preparation to douse the fire and looked for alternate entry points in the building. Reportedly, 45 fire fighters including chief fire officer (CFO) of Lucknow AB Pandey along with equal number of police personnel soon reached the hotels and began assisting the evacuation efforts.
“Our teams entered the buildings from a different spot and led the guests to safety. Some of the guests were rescued through the main entrance and the remaining were taken to the roof for safety,” said the CFO.
Fire fighters inspected each room to ensure that no one was left behind. The combing continued even after the fire was put out after a six-hour-long battle. Cops also arranged to transport the injured to hospitals.