Four dead in Ajmer hotel fire; woman throws her child from 3rd floor window to save him from blaze
PTC Web Desk: In a tragic incident on Thursday morning, a massive fire engulfed Hotel Naaz in Ajmer, Rajasthan, resulting in the death of four persons and injuring several others. The fire broke out around 8am, quickly spreading through the building and forcing guests to leap from windows in a desperate bid to escape.
According to Dr Anil Samaria, Principal of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, the deceased include two men, a woman, and a four-year-old child. Most of the victims suffered fatal burn injuries and suffocation. In a heart-wrenching act, a mother threw her young child from a third-floor window to save him from the blaze. The child reportedly sustained minor burns and is receiving treatment.
Eyewitness Mangila Kalosia, a guest at the hotel, recounted, “A woman threw her child into my lap from a window. She was about to jump too, but we managed to stop her.”
Disturbing visuals from the scene showed thick smoke pouring out of the building. One video captured a man leaping across the street to safety, while another attempted to descend using a rope but tragically fell to the ground.
A total of eight persons are being treated for injuries at JLN Hospital. The preliminary investigation points to a short circuit as the cause of the fire, with witnesses reporting a loud explosion—possibly due to an air conditioner malfunction—preceding the flames.
At the time of the incident, 18 persons from Delhi were staying at the hotel, having come to Ajmer on a pilgrimage. The narrow alley where the hotel is located posed significant challenges to rescue teams. Several firefighters and police officers reportedly fainted during the strenuous operation.
Gajendra Singh Rathore, ADM City, confirmed that the fire has been extinguished and no one remains trapped. "The electric panel appears to be the source of the fire, which spread rapidly. The rescue mission is complete," he stated.
The authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident, and concerns are being raised over the hotel's location in a cramped area that hindered emergency response efforts.
- With inputs from agencies
