Fire Officer Nitin Ivalekar
On the fateful day, Fireman Nitin Ivalekar was on the first shift and had reported to work at 7 am. At Andheri a major fire broke out in the morning hours at Lotus Business Park on the 21st floor of the high-rise building. The building houses many offices, including properties of several film personalities. The Fire brigade officials were struggling to control the fire as intensity was increasing due to windy conditions.
Nitin and his colleagues to bring a hosepipe and other fire equipments for the fire crew inside the building. As he kept climbing the staircase, the fire had spread to the other floors as well, trapping him along with 10 other firefighters in the thick smoke billowing on the top of the building. While other firefighters were looking for an escape route, Nitin daringly ventured into the smoke and ran towards the 21st floor to finish the task. The Coast Guard choppers were rushed to the rescue of stranded firemen after gusty winds fanned the fire making their evacuation impossible by any other means. But Nitin could not be rescued in time; he died of serious burn injuries. The tragic incident has once again exposed the hidden dangers faced by a city that is only growing vertically.
Other Winners
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Major Atul Garje – He died to save hundreds of lives
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