Surat tragedy: Youth endangers his life, saves two people

Tribune Web Desk 
Chandigarh, May 25 

In a horrific incident, at least 20 people were killed and several others injured when a massive fire broke out in a commercial complex in Surat on Friday.

With many falling to their deaths and some, who suffocated; several shocking scenes were aired on TV channels. Students were seen jumping off the top floors of the four-storey building to escape the smoke. 

However, a video clip of the incident showed a fearless man trying to help students get out of the building safely. 

The video was circulated widely on all social media platforms. 

The young man first managed to climb out of the building and then onto the ledge of the third floor. 

With smoke everywhere, the man at first tried to save a girl trying to climb down, but was unable to catch her as she slipped and fell down. 

After that, he helped another girl to get down from the fourth-floor window and onto the ledge. The two then helped a third person escape the blaze by getting him down safely on the ledge of the building.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said the government had ordered a detailed inquiry and anyone found responsible for the incident "would not be spared."

Taking to Twitter, PM Narendra Modi expressed “anguish”. He wrote: "My thoughts are with bereaved families. May the injured recover quickly. Have asked the Gujarat Government and local authorities to provide all possible assistance to those affected.” 

Congress president Rahul Gandhi also expressed his condolences to the families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those who were injured. 

In a tweet in Hindi, he wrote: “I am pained on hearing the news about the tragedy in Surat in Gujarat. I express my deep condolences to the families of the affected persons. I also wish for the speedy recovery of the injured.”