Eyewitnesses described intense smoke as people clung to windows and balconies, begging for help in Malviya Nagar.
A five-story Flourish Stay B&B, including Lemon Green restaurant, caught fire Wednesday morning. The inferno claimed 21 lives.
Officials and locals noted that narrow staircases and only one exit forced many to leap from windows for survival.
Eyewitness Actions
Sherkhan, a resident, recalled seeing small flames quickly engulf the building around 9 a.m., leaving trapped people panicked.
One woman jumped with her small child onto mattresses laid by locals, fracturing her leg but saving the child.
Asif, another eyewitness, observed thick black smoke rising while residents immediately set mattresses in alleys to catch leaping victims.
Another courageous local entered despite the fire, broke walls, and pulled seven to eight people to safety.
Several people had stopped breathing from smoke inhalation, prompting eyewitnesses to provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, reviving multiple victims.
Victims and Background
At the time of the fire, around 50 people occupied the building, many attending Lemon Green restaurant or staying at Flourish Stay B&B.
Most occupants were attendants of patients from Kenya and other international locations, including Indian states.
Tragically, those unable to escape through windows ran toward bathrooms. Rescuers found bodies inside, charred or suffocated.
Building Violations
Locals expressed anger that the five-story illegal structure operated beyond its six-room Bed-and-Breakfast license, including 25 rooms and a basement.
Authorities declared the fire Make-4 (critical) at 9:16 a.m., dispatching ten fire engines to control the blaze.
Emergency Response
Victims received treatment at AIIMS Trauma Center, Max Saket, and Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital.
Residents criticized delays, noting prompt action on illegal structures and timely ambulance arrival could have saved many lives.
Eyewitness Heroism
Despite immense danger, locals risked their lives amidst flames and debris to rescue trapped guests. Their courageous acts highlighted community bravery.
