As firefighters began battling to contain the inferno, residents made desperate calls to emergency services. Others begged for their pets to be saved, and elderly people in wheelchairs struggled to escape.
The fire occurred at Hillside Endarasha Academy in Nyeri, a primary boarding school for young students. According to Citizen Television, the fire burnt victims beyond recognition.
While the country aspires to be an economic powerhouse, these aspirations are hollow without a fundamental commitment to the safety and well-being of its people.
Between 1 April & 5 June, 32 fires triggered by short circuits and AC blasts were reported in Ghaziabad and 85 in Noida. Delhi Fire Services says helpline received over 200 calls daily.
The incidents in Delhi & Rajkot last week have raised concerns about the preparedness of India’s fire services, which, according to govt reports, are facing a lack of adequate infra and manpower.
Tea stall owner Mahesh Bharwar was a first responder, and student Prithviraj Zala lost two friends but helped save many others. Their actions were critical during wait for fire tenders.
There are discrepancies in official records & eyewitness statements about when fire started at TRP Gaming Zone. ‘Waited 45 minutes for help,’ says father who lost 19-yr-old daughter.
The collusion between the new class of bureaucrats, politicians, businessmen and trade union bosses perpetuates itself partly because of the short-run benefits and partly because they see no way out of the system, wrote author MH Mody in 1980.
IAF is firming up plans to revamp airlift capabilities with medium transport aircraft that will be assembled in India & serve as its main workhorse. Embraer is leading contender as of now.
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