'We heard screams, saw flames from the cellar': Secunderabad fire survivors recall close shave

Hyderabad: Man Mohan Khanna and Rajesh Chabra were in Hyderabad for an official purpose and decided to stay at Ruby Hotel near the passport office in Secunderabad. They did not expect that a tragic fire incident would take place on the night of 12 September at the hotel.

On the morning of 12 September, Rajesh came from Gujarat to visit his company's office Forbes Marshall Private Limited, a pharma company at Kajupally in Gandimaisamma in Medchal Malkajgiri. Rajesh and Mohan are product managers at the firm. When they were booking a room at Ruby Hotel, little did they know about the tragedy that awaited them at the end of the day.

At about 8:48 p.m, the two men returned to their hotel room, freshened up, and went up to the fifth floor for dinner.

At about 9:35 p.m, they heard the loud screams of the hotel staff. "We noticed flames and smoke coming from the cellar where the hotel management was running the Ruby Gemopia electrical scooter showroom. Immediately, we alerted everybody at the dining hall and other hotel guests and hotel staff. We, along with four other people, escaped from the 5th floor terrace to the Yatri hotel but many people could not escape because of the smoke and flames," Mohan recalls.

Immediately, Mohan and others called the police. The fire brigade and the police arrived and started extinguishing the flames. Later, they shifted the injured people to the hospital.

Mohan filed a complaint at the Market police station requesting the police to take necessary action against the scooter showroom owner and his brothers and the manager of the hotel. "They are illegally running the electrical scooter business in the hotel premises as he knew such businesses are not supposed to be run in such premises and that it would endanger human lives. He knew that it was likely to cause deaths and failed to take necessary safety steps. He is responsible for the deaths of the eight persons," said Mohan.

Based on his complaint, a case has been registered at Market PS in Secunderabad under sections 304 II and 337 of the Indian Penal Code. Meanwhile, Mohan and Rajesh were injured in the incident and are getting treatment at the hospital. The injured people are getting treated at Gandhi and Yashoda hospital.

Difficulties faced during Fire Fighting operations.

-No visibility due to thick smoke.

-The Building has only Single Stair Case and second staircase alternate escape not provided.

-The Setbacks are not available all round the building Fire Fighting Equipments were installed in the building but not in working condition.

-Fire crew wearing personal protection equipment Fe, Fire Proximity suits and BA Set entered in top the building and controlled the fire.

-Fire Service Department has made as many vents as possible for removal of smoke. Closed building and no proper ventilation and difficulty in entry into the building.

-The building is mixed occupancy of Commercial and Residential (Lodge]

-Staircase provided around the lift.

-Basement is utilized for commercial purpose.

-No Smoke Management.

-There is no Emergency lighting