New Delhi: A Delhi Police head constable is being hailed as a hero after he braved choking smoke, soaring flames and near-zero visibility to save 13 people, among them 11 visually impaired students, from a burning commercial building in north Delhi’s Burari earlier this month, officials said on Wednesday. 

The dramatic late-night rescue unfolded around 2.30 am on the intervening night of 16 and 17 May, when a cluster of shops in a multi-storey building at Daroga Market caught fire, rapidly trapping residents on the upper floors.

Fire erupts, trapping residents as staircase cut off

According to officials, the blaze engulfed eight shops on the ground floor before racing upwards, blocking the main staircase and leaving several people stranded with no safe exit. Head Constable Amar Singh, posted at the Burari police station, was on night patrol when a local resident alerted him to the fire.

As he reached the site, Singh spotted a man and a woman marooned on the second floor, with walls of flames and thick smoke preventing any escape route.

Solo effort saves 13 lives

Without waiting for firefighters or additional police support, Singh flagged down a passing truck, climbed onto its roof and accessed the second-floor balcony. Battling smoke and near-total darkness, he carried the two residents, one at a time, on his shoulders to safety.

The officer collapsed soon after due to heavy smoke inhalation but regained composure as the rescue continued.

During the operation, Singh was informed that an adjoining building housed visually impaired students who were at risk as the fire threatened to spread. Acting immediately, he entered the neighbouring structure and guided all 11 students down a staircase to safety before flames could reach them.

Police said Singh executed the entire rescue effort alone, before the fire brigade or other emergency personnel could reach the scene. His swift response and willingness to endanger his own life prevented multiple casualties, officials added.

(With PTI inputs)