The devastating fire at a hotel in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives could have turned into an even greater catastrophe had local residents, Delhi Police personnel, and firefighters not joined hands in a desperate rescue operation. Among those hailed for their courage are local businessman Riazuddin Mansouri and Max Hospital security officer Wasim Raja, whose actions helped save several people trapped inside the burning building.
As flames and thick smoke engulfed the hotel, panic-stricken guests cried out for help from upper floors. Witnesses recalled scenes of chaos as people struggled to escape the inferno.
One of the first to respond was Riazuddin Mansouri, who owns a mattress shop near the hotel. According to him, he received information about the fire shortly after 8 a.m. and rushed to the spot after his son called him. On arriving, he heard desperate screams from those trapped inside the building.
“We heard people shouting, ‘Save us, save us.’ We immediately brought out all the mattresses from the shop and spread them outside so that people could jump and save their lives,”Riazuddin said.
Without worrying about financial losses, he allowed rescuers to use his entire stock of mattresses. Videos of trapped guests jumping onto the mattresses later circulated widely on social media.
Riazuddin described his actions as a duty towards society and humanity. “Humanity is the most important thing. If we do not care for humanity, society and the country will suffer. We should help people who are in danger,” he said.
He added that the mattresses suffered significant damage during the rescue operation, estimating losses of around `2 lakh. Riazuddin also said no government authority or other organisation initially approached him regarding compensation. The Sadbhavna Group of NFC and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Delhi later honoured him with a cheque of `1 lakh for his courageous efforts during the rescue operation.
Another key figure in the rescue was Wasim Raja, a security officer at Max Hospital and a resident of the locality. Recalling the incident, Raja said the entire building was engulfed in flames by the time he reached the scene and people were pleading for help.
“We had the Delhi Police team with us, but there was no easy way to enter the building. At that moment, Riazuddin handed over everything in his shop without hesitation. We spread the mattresses and people started jumping to safety,” Raja said.
As firefighters arrived, Raja and other volunteers joined them in rescue efforts. One route to the basement was blocked by a locked iron grill, which rescuers cut open with the help of firefighting personnel.
“The first person we found was a 15-year-old girl who was severely burnt. We immediately shifted her to an ambulance. We later found a wheelchair-bound patient who had also suffered severe burns and rescued him,” Raja recounted.
He said his team also discovered unconscious foreign nationals inside the building. Drawing upon his 14-15 years of experience as a security officer, he checked their pulse and began CPR before moving them to safety.
The rescue operation became increasingly dangerous as smoke filled every corner of the building.
“During the second round inside, I felt we might lose our lives. I recited the Kalima because I thought I would not survive. It was dark everywhere and there was thick smoke. Even today, I am suffering from a persistent cough,” Raja said.
He recalled finding burnt bodies inside the hotel and having to break a window to catch his breath before continuing the rescue mission. Despite lacking safety equipment such as oxygen masks, helmets and protective suits, Raja and his team continued searching for survivors.
According to Raja, several people were rescued through a coordinated effort involving local residents, Delhi Police and the firefighting team.“We worked as a team. Most of the people who survived were brought out through our combined efforts,” he said.
The Malviya Nagar hotel fire has left the city mourning the loss of 21 lives. Yet, amid the tragedy, the bravery displayed by citizens emerged as a powerful reminder of humanity, courage and collective action in the face of disaster.