‘Mujhe bacha lo, main lift mein phas gaya hoon' last words of UPSC aspirant who died in the blaze at Vishal Megamart in Delhi
Dhirendra Pratap Singh
was found eight hours after his death in a lift at
Vishal Mega Mart
in Delhi's Karol Bagh, where he had been trapped during a major fire on Friday evening. Singh, a
UPSC
aspirant, died of suffocation after sending desperate messages and calls for help that went unanswered.
Trapped in elevator, sent final message
Rescue teams recovered Singh's body from the elevator around 2:30 a.m. Moments before his death, he sent a WhatsApp message to his brother that read, 'Bhaiya, I'm stuck in the lift... I can't breathe... please save me.' He also made phone calls seeking help as reported by ANI.
A native of Sonbhadra,
Uttar Pradesh
, Singh had been staying in a paying guest accommodation in Karol Bagh while preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination. He had recently cleared the Preliminary stage and was studying for the Mains. He held a degree in Political Science and was pursuing a Master's.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Free P2,000 GCash eGift
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
Fire department confirms investigation underway
Delhi Fire Service
officer Ravi Nath stated that a fire call was received at 6:44 p.m. on Friday from Vishal Mega Mart. 'It's a ground plus three-floor structure. One male body was recovered from the lift around 2 a.m.. The cause of the fire, availability of fire safety equipment, and status of fire NOC are under investigation,' he said to ANI.
Family alleges negligence by staff and authorities
Singh's brother, Vikram Singh, said, 'My brother had gone to Vishal Mega Mart to shop in the evening. At 6:51 p.m., I received a WhatsApp message from him saying he had been trapped inside the lift and was struggling to breathe. He called me too and said, 'Mujhe bacha lo, main lift mein phas gaya hoon, saans phool rahi hai.'(Help me, I am having difficulty breathing)
Live Events
Describing him as disciplined and hard-working, Vikram added, 'He wanted to serve the country as a civil servant. Instead, due to someone else's carelessness, he died a painful death.'
He also alleged that the store staff fled the scene after turning off the power and failed to respond. 'No one tried to rescue him. Even the police did not respond initially. We kept pleading for help till late at night. It was only at 2:30 a.m. that the store acknowledged someone was trapped inside,' he said.
Sister questions mall safety protocols
Dhirendra's sister, Dr Swati, expressed her grief and frustration, stating, 'My brother is gone, but their mall will reopen. People use lifts with trolley bags every day in
malls
. Why did no one check if anyone was inside? They turned off the power and left. Their store will be repaired, but my brother won't come back.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Swat tragedy: How Pakistan's institutional failure turned Sialkot family's picnic into a nightmare
ANI Pakistan's institutional failure turns picnic into death sentence for Sialkot family, rescue arrived too late A day of celebration turned into a harrowing tragedy for a family from Sialkot after 17 of its members were swept away by a sudden surge in Pakistan's Swat River during a picnic. Twelve bodies have been recovered so far, while the remaining five are still missing. Pakistan's Peshawar High Court has now taken strong note of what it called 'institutional failure,' as questions mount over why rescue services failed to respond in time despite the family's desperate cries for help, caught on video. The incident occurred on July 5 near the banks of the river, where the family was seen stranded on a shrinking patch of land for nearly an hour before being engulfed by the rising waters. Videos circulated widely on social media show the group pleading for help—yet no rescue personnel were in sight. At a hearing on Thursday, the chairman of the inspection committee probing the disaster informed the Peshawar High Court that multiple government departments had shown "departmental negligence." The court, led by Chief Justice Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, ordered officials to swiftly identify those responsible and called for an overhaul of emergency protocols, Geo News reported. When questioned, Hazara Division Commissioner Fayaz Ali Shah told the court that certain preventive measures had been in place—including the enforcement of Section 144 in tourist areas, anti-encroachment drives, and additional staffing at Nathia Gali hospital. However, the chief justice pressed further, asking whether new technologies like drones could be employed in emergencies. Shah confirmed that drones equipped to deliver life jackets had been acquired and that drills would be conducted to test response capabilities. The court also summoned Shah Fahad, Director General of Rescue 1122 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who acknowledged that he was in Peshawar when the incident occurred. Fahad said the first emergency call was received at 9:45 a.m., but initial dispatches did not categorize the situation as a flood emergency. According to Geo News , boats and divers were deployed only after the severity of the incident became clear, and three survivors were rescued near Mingora Bypass Road. Fahad further informed the court that several rescue officials have been suspended pending an internal investigation. Both the Hazara and Malakand commissioners have been asked to submit comprehensive reports detailing the chain of events and departmental coordination. The tragedy has reignited debate over the fragile state of Pakistan's emergency preparedness—especially in the country's popular northern tourist regions. Swat, a favoured summer destination, has long lacked modern rescue infrastructure. Now, the absence of timely aid for the Sialkot family has laid bare the consequences of administrative apathy. 'Tourists must be guaranteed a safe environment,' the chief justice told the court. As grieving families wait for answers and the search for the missing continues, Pakistan's institutions are under increasing pressure to ensure such negligence never happens again.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Karnataka man dies after falling into fire pit during Muharram ritual
A Karnataka man tragically died after falling into a fire pit on Sunday during Muharram celebrations in Raichur district. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved, said Lingasur Police. A man tragically died in Karnataka after falling into a ritual fire pit during Muharram celebrations.(HT Photo) The 40-year-old victim, identified as Hanumanth, was preparing for the festival when he accidentally fell into the fire pit used in a key ritual during Muharram. According to the police, cited by news agency ANI, he was taken to the Laigasur Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. In a separate incident in Bihar, at least one person was killed and 24 others were injured due to electrocution during a Muharram procession in Darbhanga district on Saturday evening. Darbhanga District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar said the accident happened when a portion of the tazia came in contact with a high-tension electric wire while the procession was passing through Kakorha village under the jurisdiction of Sakatpur police station. "One person died and 24 others were injured in the incident," he told PTI. He added, 'The injured are undergoing treatment at the hospital, and their condition was stated to be out of danger.' District administration officials and police personnel at the scene immediately rushed the victims to the nearest hospital. Security beefed up across country Muharram is being observed this year on Sunday, July 6. Security has been tightened across the country, including in New Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, in anticipation of large processions. In Delhi, the police have implemented detailed traffic arrangements to ensure public safety and smooth vehicular movement. Speaking to ANI, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta said, "As Muharram is on June 6 in Delhi, we have set up detailed arrangements for traffic. It will be our job to provide diversions to the traffic, and the public should feel minimal inconvenience. When the procession is underway, we will provide some diversion for it. Detailed arrangements have been issued, and we will remain in the fields to closely monitor the Muharram procession..." Gupta also mentioned that preparations are underway for the Kanwar Yatra, another major religious event that draws lakhs of devotees.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Man gets 10 years for sexual assault on 6-year-old in Thane
THANE: A 30-year-old man from Kalwa was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by an additional sessions court in Thane on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in August 2023. The accused, a Kalwa resident, was convicted under sections 4, 6, and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. Additional Sessions Judge AS Bhagwat sentenced the accused to concurrent prison terms - seven years for penetrative assault. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 for each offence. The horrific incident occurred on August 4, 2023, between 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm while the victim was playing outside her neighbour's house where her mother went for stitching classes. According to the prosecution, the accused took the child to his house, made her sit on his lap, and sexually assaulted her. The child's mother discovered the assault the next morning when the victim complained of pain and bleeding. 'The victim told her mother that the accused threatened to beat her and her parents if she disclosed the incident,' the court noted in its judgment. A doctor from CSM Hospital, Kalwa, who examined the victim, found multiple injuries including inflammation, redness, and tears on the victim's private parts, confirming sexual assault. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em São Paulo (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo The court observed that the medical evidence strongly corroborated the victim's testimony and her mother's complaint. The accused's defence counsel argued that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, claiming the accused was falsely implicated due to previous disputes with the victim's family. The defence also pointed to minor discrepancies in witness testimonies. However, Judge Bhagwat dismissed these arguments, stating that 'minor discrepancies cannot be termed fatal in POCSO cases, considering the victim's tender age of less than seven years when she testified. ' (The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
