In one of the most tragic scenes uncovered after the devastating fire at Flourish Stay B&B, rescuers found a couple dead in each other’s arms inside a locked washroom.
Local volunteer Mohammad Shoaib, who found the couple locked in an embrace, said the duo appeared to have sought refuge in the hotel washroom, waiting to be rescued.
“We went to the ground floor and spotted a washroom locked from inside. When we broke open, we found a couple locked in an embrace” said Shoaib.
“The woman was seated on a toilet seat, while the man was sitting on a chair next to her, holding her tightly. Her head was resting on his shoulder as they waited for help that never arrived,” said Shoaib. He said they did not die of burns. They died of suffocation due to smoke inhalation.
“They appeared to have locked themselves in, hoping to escape the fire. I could not hold my tears looking at the sight. It took me a while to gather my nerves,” said Shoaib.
Rescuers gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the couple. But smoke had damaged their lungs. Their bodies had turned black due to smoke.
Several local residents, including Mohammad Shoaib, Mohammad Afzal Khan, Wasim Raja, Ashraf Khan and Aamir Khan, joined the Delhi Police and fire personnel in the rescue efforts.
A couple was found sitting on the edge of a bed in a nearby room. The duo had suffered fatal burn injuries. “The scenes inside were horrifying,” said Ashraf Khan, a healthcare worker at Max Hospital who was part of the rescue efforts.
Rescuers entered the building through the basement after cutting through its entry to gain access. Ashraf recalled finding the first victim, a woman who appeared in her 20s, near the reception area. Her body was completely charred.
Nearby, a wheelchair-bound man was found dead.
As rescuers moved deeper into the building, they found three foreign nationals lying unconscious and immediately gave them CPR.
