These heroes saved students' lives in devastating Surat fire
In a tragic incident on Friday, a massive blaze engulfed the Takshashila Complex in Surat, leaving 23 students dead and several injured. Horrifying visuals of students leaping off the four-story building to evade the flames also went viral. However, in the midst of tragedy, a few heroic figures emerged. As firefighters doused the flames, two civilians took it upon themselves to help those trapped.
25-year-old sustained head injuries while saving others
According to an Ahmedabad Mirror report, 25-year-old, Jatin Nakrani, director of design institute Creator Institute of Designers, risked his own life, sustaining a head injury, to save over half-a-dozen students who were caught in the inferno. Reportedly, Nakrani saved five students and staff of the design institute and sustained head injuries when he went upstairs to rescue other students who were trapped.
Nakrani under treatment at Mahavir hospital
Speaking to Ahmedabad Mirror, Bhavna Gor, head of the design institute's Athwalines branch, said, "Jatin Nakrani, director of our branch has suffered a head injury and got hemorrhage after he fell while trying to escape the fire. He is under treatment at the Mahavir hospital."
Fire erupted on Friday afternoon near building staircase
The blaze erupted on Friday afternoon at the Takshashila Arcade, a commercial complex which houses over 70 shops and offices. "The fire started near the staircase, so they could not get down," Joint Commissioner of Police Harikrishna Patel told News18. The fire was doused within an hour as 19 fire tenders and two hydraulic platforms rushed to the spot to conduct rescue operations.
Separately, Jorwadiya caught two students who jumped from top floor
Another braveheart, Ketan Jorwadiya, leaped onto the ledge between the third and the top floors. Jorwadiya then caught two girls, who had jumped from the top floor to save themselves. "The two students were too afraid to jump. I offered a hand and safely dropped them on the ledge from where we were rescued by the fire personnel," Jorwadiya told Ahmedabad Mirror.
Jorwadiya's heroic rescue of two girls caught on camera
Meanwhile, Gujarat CM announced financial aid for family of deceased
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended his condolences to the family of the deceased. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also addressed his anguish over the incident and announced Rs. 4 lakh financial aid to each of the families of those killed.
Death toll rises to 23; most fatalities between ages 14-17
By Saturday, the death toll in the devastating fire had risen to 23. Reportedly, two injured students were on ventilators, while five others were admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Four others were reported to be in a stable condition. Reports state that most students killed were attending tuition classes on the top floor and were between the ages of 14-17.
FIR registered against three; Police arrest one man
Reportedly, the building didn't meet fire safety requirements, which is stated as the main reason for the number of fatalities. According to Commissioner of Police Surat, Satish Sharma, the police registered an FIR against three persons in connection with the incident and have arrested one man, who conducted tuition classes in the complex. All tuition classes in the complex have been stopped for now.
