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`Turbanator` saves dozen from fire: The Pioneer
New Delhi, Oct 04: Septuagenarian Sandeep Singh, or Babaji as he is more often called, has no claim to fame except that he has run a taxi stand for the past 30 years. One heroic and resourceful act later, Babaji has turned into the messiah who helped rescue several people from a fire that broke out in Ranjit Hotel on Friday.
New Delhi, Oct 04: Septuagenarian Sandeep Singh, or Babaji as he is more often called, has no claim to fame except that he has run a taxi stand for the past 30 years. One heroic and resourceful act later, Babaji has turned into the messiah who helped rescue several people from a fire that broke out in Ranjit Hotel on Friday.
"It was a little after noon," said Mr Singh, "when I suddenly heard cries coming from the Ranjit Hotel building", now the corporate office of Reliance Infocomm. "Clouds of huge black smoke leaped into the sky which alerted me that the building was on fire," he said. Finding the back gate locked, Babaji convinced the guard to let him in.
"The sight was frightening," said Baba. "People were standing on the second and third floors, crying for help. Some were even throwing certain things on the ground for being spotted by the ground staff. Others, mostly men afraid of being burnt alive, jumped to safety from the first floor."
Said Mr Rakesh Kumar, a Reliance official: "Since the fire spread from the ground floor to the top floors, the stairway was enveloped in thick smoke, making it totally inaccessible." Had it not been for the kind help rendered by Babaji, we could not have survived unscathed." Another employee, Veena Goel, who had to be rescued from the second floor said, "I thought my chances of survival were bleak as the thick smoke was coming nearer every second. Had it not been for the Babaji's cloth we would have been trapped inside the building." The cloth that saved was no ordinary one, but Babaji's eight-metre turban. "The turban did the magic. When tied to a stick it easily reached the third floor," said Mr Singh. With one end tied to a railing, the trapped persons one-by one came sliding down to the first floor and a waiting ladder.
While a dozen fire tenders fought the fire, Babaji carried on with his good work, saving at least a dozen people, including a 60-year-old woman, the flames and smoke.
It took almost an hour for the police and the fire fighting operations to cease, yet the orange cloth serenaded from the third floor railing as a mark of victory. Mr Singh was more than just a saviour for many. Said Ms Goel, "I am happy that I have escaped the fire for which I am indebted to Babaji." "Either we could have got burnt or we had to jump off from the top floor, but luckily God sent Babaji for our aid," added Mr Kumar.
Three persons were injured, yet Mr Singh is grateful to God that no life was lost. At this age, Mr Singh has devoted his life to religion and serving God. And what better way than this, said Babaji.
"The sight was frightening," said Baba. "People were standing on the second and third floors, crying for help. Some were even throwing certain things on the ground for being spotted by the ground staff. Others, mostly men afraid of being burnt alive, jumped to safety from the first floor."
Said Mr Rakesh Kumar, a Reliance official: "Since the fire spread from the ground floor to the top floors, the stairway was enveloped in thick smoke, making it totally inaccessible." Had it not been for the kind help rendered by Babaji, we could not have survived unscathed." Another employee, Veena Goel, who had to be rescued from the second floor said, "I thought my chances of survival were bleak as the thick smoke was coming nearer every second. Had it not been for the Babaji's cloth we would have been trapped inside the building." The cloth that saved was no ordinary one, but Babaji's eight-metre turban. "The turban did the magic. When tied to a stick it easily reached the third floor," said Mr Singh. With one end tied to a railing, the trapped persons one-by one came sliding down to the first floor and a waiting ladder.
While a dozen fire tenders fought the fire, Babaji carried on with his good work, saving at least a dozen people, including a 60-year-old woman, the flames and smoke.
It took almost an hour for the police and the fire fighting operations to cease, yet the orange cloth serenaded from the third floor railing as a mark of victory. Mr Singh was more than just a saviour for many. Said Ms Goel, "I am happy that I have escaped the fire for which I am indebted to Babaji." "Either we could have got burnt or we had to jump off from the top floor, but luckily God sent Babaji for our aid," added Mr Kumar.
Three persons were injured, yet Mr Singh is grateful to God that no life was lost. At this age, Mr Singh has devoted his life to religion and serving God. And what better way than this, said Babaji.