'I was about to step into killer lift'

Luckily, senior cops stop sub-inspector Meghna Burande from entering the lift that took the six firemen in Thane high-rise to their horrifying death on Sunday

Luckily, senior cops stop sub-inspector Meghna Burande from entering the lift that took the six firemen in Thane high-rise to their horrifying death on Sunday

Sub-inspector Meghna Burande (32), feels she was born again on Sunday. "I owe my life to Azhar Khan," said Burande. The duty officer at Vartak Nagar was fortunate not to step into the lift at the Punarvasu Building in Tarangan Complex in Thane.

Thank god: Sub-inspector Meghna Burande. pic/varun Singh

A flat in the building caught fire on Sunday and six firemen from Wagle Estate Fire Depot, who rushed to douse the fire, died of asphyxiation, as the lift got stuck because someone unknowingly switched off the power supply.

"When a fire broke out in the building for the second time on Sunday, I rushed to the spot. I was about to step into the lift with the six firemen, but was stopped by my head constable Khan because I could not have been of help upstairs," recalled a relieved Burande.

She added, "Later, when I was told that the six firemen had died of suffocation as the door of the lift did not open, I was numb for a few minutes. After a while, I called my father and told him how I could have died in the accident. He disconnected the line without uttering a word." Burande stays alone in Thane and her parents had specially flown down for Diwali. Sameer Gurade, manager, Tarangan Complex, said, "She couldn't stop thanking God."

'They can use a lift'
Meanwhile, Vijay Vaidya, chief fire officer, Thane, said, "It is not wrong to use a lift during such an emergency. It was the fastest mode to reach the spot. The six firemen did what they felt was best for the situation in the absence of any orders. The lift had a technical snag, which needs to be investigated."

Vaidya added that firemen were wearing fireproof uniforms and also had mobiles and walkie talkies, but had they stopped functioning in the lift. "It was an unfortunate accident that has shocked everyone," said Vaidya.

2 fires in 5 hours
A fire broke out in a 14th floor apartment of Tarangan building for the second time in a span of five hours. "On Laxmi puja on Saturday, a fire broke out in Ravindra Kulkarni's flat at 11 pm. The fire officials managed to douse the fire and asked Kulkarni to evacuate.
Since it was a minor incident triggered by a cracker, it was not reported to the police," said Burande. She added, "After another fire broke out in the same apartment at 4 am, the residents called the fire brigade again." The victims have been identified as J C Singh, Avdhut Thanekar, S R Jamadar, Kishore Patil, S K S Shinde and Tanaji Kale.

Rs 5 lakh
Ex gratia payment announced by the Thane Municipal Corporation to the families of the six deceased firemen
Rs 2 lakh
Compensation announced by Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan

10 Fire Safety Rules

1.) Don't play with matches and lighters. If you see matches or a lighter where you can reach them, don't touch them. Go tell a grown up right away.

2.) Ask your parents to install smoke detectors on every floor and in the sleeping areas of your home. Smoke detectors can save lives. Ask your parents to show you where each one is located.

3.) Remind your parents to test your smoke detectors every month. Make sure everyone in your family is familiar with its piercing sound. Teach them that this sound means danger, and they must escape quickly.

4.) When your parents change the time on your clocks for Daylight Savings, ask them to change your smoke alarm batteries. Give it fresh batteries and your smoke alarm will stay awake and watch for fire while you are sleeping.

5.) In case of fire: DON'T HIDE, GO OUTSIDE! Fires are scary, but you should NEVER hide in closets or under beds when there is a fire.

6.) To escape during a fire; Fall & Crawl. It is easier to breath in a fire if you stay low while getting out.Use the back of your hand to test if a door is hot before you open it. If it is hot, try to use another way out.

7.) If your clothes are on fire; Stop, Drop, and Roll until the fire is out. Shout for help, but don't run. Running makes fire burn faster.

8.) Have an escape plan and practice it with your family. Find two ways out of every room in case one way is blocked by fire or smoke. Practice escaping by both routes to be sure windows are not stuck and screens can be taken out quickly.

9.) Choose a meeting place outside, such as a big tree or the end of the driveway, so you will know that everyone has gotten out safely. NEVER go back into a burning building for any reason. If someone is missing, tell the firefighters. They have the clothing and equipment to safely rescue people.

10.) Know your local emergency number. Put stickers and magnets with emergency numbers on your refridgerator and every telephone in the house. If there is a fire at your house, choose one family member to leave your meeting place and call the fire department from a neighbors phone.