Kottayam: Two young bravehearts from
Kerala, who were nurses in the fire-ravaged AMRI Hospital in
Kolkata, saved eight patients before their own lives were
snuffed out while trying to rescue another victim.
Remya and Vineetha, both 24 pulled out eight of the nine
patients in the noxius smoke-filled female ward and when they
had gone up to save the ninth patient, who had suffered a
fracture, succumbed to the smoke and heat, said Sumini, the
Deputy Nursing Superintendent.
In fact, even as she was engaged in the valiant rescue
effort, she had called up her home from Kolkata in the wee
hours on Friday and spoken to her mother who had little
inkling that this would be the last time she would hear her
daughter.
She told her mother that the hospital was filled with
thick smoke and fume and it was very difficult for her to
breathe, a close relative here said.
In fact, before she completed the talk the telephone line
got disconnected. Later,it was another nurse from Kolkata who
informed Remya's relatives that she was one of the two
Malayali nurses who perished in the fire.
Vineetha hailed from a poor family also from Kottayam. She
had joined AMRI hospital just two months back after quitting a
hospital in Chandigarh.
According to Remya's relatives, she had visited them three
months back and stayed for a few days before returning to
Kolkata.
Remya's father,a daily wager earner, died before she
completed her nursing course. It was with great difficulty
that her mother and brother supported her to complete the
course.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, December 10, 2011, 22:02