AMRI fire: Locals turn saviour of helpless victims

"I was alerted by thrust on the huge glass panes and mobile phone lights sported by nurses and patients from inside AMRI hospital," said ex-civil defence personnel Papia Singh, who led youths of nearby Panchanantala to rescue nearly 20-30 fire victims.

"None of the AMRI employees was in sight. There was a scaffolding near the boundary wall between the AMRI hospital and the slum. We scaled the wall despite resistance by security guards, rushed towards the annexe building which was already engulfed in dark smoke.

"Fire-brigade was yet to arrive. We broke open the glass panes with iron rods and leapt inside," she said.

"We carried torches and emergency lights as it was pitch dark inside the building. We entered the first and second floors, and found most of the patients gasping for breath with dark smoke filling the wards so quickly. With whatever strength we could gather, we carried away 20-30 patients outside and stepped out of the building.

"By the time we came out, fire brigade personnel and civil defence personnel had arrived and started their operation," she said.

Bubai Das, who collected as many as 30 youth, narrated how he left the bed at 3.10 am, "When my father asked me to rush and rescue people in AMRI which is in fire."

"Fire-brigade personnel arrived late. By that time, we has rescued many patients," he said.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has thanked the locals for rescuing some of the patients.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has also praised the local youths of Panchanantala for their role as rescuers.