Fire breaks out in five-storey guest house in Gurugram, four people rescued
Gurugram (PTI): A massive fire broke out at a five-storey guest house in the Sector 28 area here on Friday afternoon, creating panic and chaos.
Police, firefighters, Haryana State Disaster Response Force (HSDRF) and locals rescued four people, including three women, who were trapped in the building. They managed to douse the fire after an hour's struggle.
According to a fire officer, the blaze originated from an electrical panel on the ground floor of the guest house. It was initially believed to have been caused by a short circuit.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Gaurav Rajpurohit and Assistant Commissioner of Police (East) Vikas Kaushik were present at the spot, the officer said.
He said fire department officials received a call around 1.29 pm stating that a five-storey building (No 3401) in Sector 28 had caught fire, with four people trapped inside.
Four fire engines and an HSDRF team were immediately dispatched to the spot.
A senior police officer said the fire erupted near the main entrance of the building and smoke spread inside.
Heavy smoke made it impossible to climb up the building from the front, but police personnel and the fire brigade demonstrated courage, reached the first floor using the building's side railings and set the rescue operation in motion. They then used ropes, grills and stairs from the rear of the building to reach the top floor and rescued the trapped people.
"Acting promptly and bravely, the rescue team safely evacuated women and other residents from the burning guest house. Due to their swift action, a major tragedy was averted, and the fire was brought under control in time," he added.
The building, rented by a company, has five floors, with four one-BHK units on each. The rooms were fully occupied at the time, they said.
"The situation was brought under control by around 2.40 pm. The fire was on the ground floor, but the flames had begun spreading to the second floor, raising fears of a major disaster. But our firefighters brought it under control in time. Refrigerators, air conditioners and other items on the ground floor were destroyed in the incident. The trapped people were rescued," said another fire officer.
A Gurugram Police spokesperson said, "The DCP (East) will give commendation letters to the police personnel, the fire brigade team and common people who saved lives by entering the burning building."
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Surjewala attacks Centre on LPG cylinder crisis, asks BJP how it will face voters
Bengaluru (PTI): Attacking the Narendra Modi-led government in the centre over the LPG cylinder crisis in the country, Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Friday asked the BJP, how will it go to the voters in poll-bound states.
Claiming that the country was facing a "huge crisis", he attacked the centre over the depreciation of the Indian rupee to Rs 93 against the US dollar, terming it "worrisome" for both the economy and employment.
Surjewala, who is also the party in charge of Karnataka, said that during the tenure of Manmohan Singh as PM, Modi had said that the "prestige of the prime minister falls when the value of the rupee declines". Then the value of the Indian Rupee against the USD was at Rs 54 for a dollar.
Speaking to reporters here, he alleged that despite the current situation, the government and the BJP remained "on mute mode", while ordinary households, small dhabas, restaurants and eateries were facing a severe crisis with a shortage of both commercial and domestic gas.
"Today, the Indian rupee has fallen to 93 rupees to a dollar, but the BJP, Prime Minister Modi and their government remains on a mute mode. Ordinary households, small dhabas and restaurants, and small eateries feel the crisis today. No commercial gas is available, no domestic gas is available," he claimed.
The Congress leader alleged that people were buying gas cylinders in black at Rs 1,300.
"At this price, we will have to employ a security guard to protect every cylinder in India," he said sarcastically and alleged that the BJP is not taking responsibility for the situation.
He further alleged that the Centre had raised the price of domestic gas twice and commercial gas thrice, and also increased the price of premium petrol and diesel.
"Tomorrow you will again raise the price of petrol and diesel. What should the ordinary Indian do? Does the BJP have any answer? Do they even have a right to go and seek votes?" he asked.
While Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry are facing Assembly polls, two seats in Karnataka -- Davangere South and Bagalkote -- will go for by-elections.
Speaking to reporters here, Surjewala demanded answers from BJP leaders and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy.
"We demand from Kumarswamy why he is keeping mum? Why are they quiet? Price of commercial gas goes up three times, price of domestic gas goes up two times, price of premium petrol and diesel goes up, price of petrol and diesel is about to go up," he said.
Alleging that while the unemployment rate for graduates in India is 67 per cent and the artificial intelligence revolution is leading to loss of jobs in India, he alleged that the BJP does only communal politics.
The Congress leader asserted that the BJP had no right to seek votes until it answered these questions.
