A terrifying fire ravaged a residential tower in Ghaziabad’s Khoda Colony Tuesday night, confining 150 residents in a smoke-filled nightmare and injuring more than 20. The fire sparked suddenly on the ground level near the staircase and electrical board of the five-story edifice, rapidly escalating into a full-blown emergency.
The incident unfolded near Birbal Chowki adjacent to Golden Palace, a bustling spot with a 40-45 flat building teeming with families. Thick black smoke surged upwards, sealing off staircases and forcing people to huddle on balconies. The Vaishali fire brigade was alerted at 11:47 PM, dispatching 10 tenders posthaste.
Chief Fire Officer Rahul Pal’s crew assessed the volatile situation: intense fire in critical escape paths combined with impenetrable fog of smoke. Rescue commenced instantly, with extendable ladders reaching upper stories and personnel navigating through windows to extract the trapped. Coordinated efforts pierced the danger zone repeatedly.
Miraculously, all 150 souls were rescued unharmed or with minor issues, but 22 bore the brunt—scalded by flames or overcome by fumes. They were rushed to hospitals via ambulances, under expert medical care. Remaining victims received prompt care at the spot. Officials from police and administration monitored the high-stakes save.
It took relentless hours to douse the flames completely. Probe into origins is underway, likely centering on wiring malfunctions. As relief washes over survivors, the event spotlights glaring lapses in fire preparedness across urban India—from faulty infrastructure to absent alarms—demanding immediate regulatory overhauls.