PATNA YOUTH WHO CAME FOR EXAM DIES ALONG WITH FATHER

LUCKNOW: Before he could appear for the UP Police constable recruitment exam scheduled on Tuesday, a 21-year old youth from Patna, along with his father, was killed in the massive fire that broke out apparently due to a short-circuit at the SSJ Hotel.

The youth, Avinash Kumar Singh and his father Ganesh Prasad Singh were rescued by the police from their hotel room. While his father died earlier in the day at Civil Hospital, Avinash was admitted to the Sushrut Hospital of Plastic Surgery (SIPS) with 95% burn injuries. He succumbed to his injuries late on Tuesday night.

Ganesh, a resident of Patna in Bihar, had come to Lucknow for his son’s constable recruitment exam. His body was identified by his brother Bhimsen Singh who reached Lucknow from Patna after being intimated about the incident by the police.

Besides Avinash and Ganesh, four more deaths were reported in the incident.

Pune resident Santosh Mane, who was also putting up at the SSJ Hotel, died in the mishap. Police have informed his relatives about his death.

Priyank Sharma of Aligarh district was also killed in the incident. The fourth deceased has been identified as Mehar, an infant girl. Her mother Rani is battling for her life with 85% burn injuries. Rani is undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital in Lucknow.

Authorities were not able to identify one of the deceased, a female, till the last reports came in.

Reportedly, all the deceased were putting up at the third floor of the SSJ Hotel. According to authorities, the fires started from the basement of the hotel in the wee hours of Tuesday. It also spread to Hotel Viraat International situated beside the SSJ Hotel.

Both the hotels have four floors. While the guests in ground and first floor managed to exit the hotels from the main entrance, those on third and fourth floors rushed towards the roof, from where they were rescued.