Security guards played the saviour

It was utter chaos as the guests got into a scramble to save their lives in pitch dark. They could not find the exit, which was not demarcated. Moreover, the patrons had no idea about the topography of the eatery. The situation got out of hand the instant the power tripped. Those who made it to the staircase -- and there was only one -- a few guests turned on their mobile torches and fell over each other in their frantic attempts to escape the inferno. However, the effort of some of them was frustrated as the makeshift bamboo stick and plastic ceiling collapsed in flames and the debris blocked the exit gate. Hearing the commotion and cries for help, the security guards from adjacent buildings rushed to help the hapless victims. For few minutes, there was a stampede-like situation on the staircase. "We removed the burning bamboo sticks and helped nearly 200 people come out the restaurant," said one of the security guards. Recounting the midnight incident, another security guard said, "A few of those trapped were trying to jump out of the building but we pulled them back, convinced that we could rescue them. It would have been fatal had they jumped out, a replay of the Elphinstone Road tragedy.

Meanwhile, the inferno had hit the adjacent buildings, which were mostly media houses. Journalists and other staff came running out of their buildings and started recording the event on their smart phones. It took the channels some time to come back on air.