Race against flames: How head constable’s swift action saved visually impaired students

New Delhi: With eight shops engulfed in flames and 11 visually impaired students trapped at a Burari market in the early hours of May 17, it was a race against time for head constable Amar Singh, who had to act with swift thinking and decisive action.

Singh, a beat officer posted at Burari police station, was on night patrol around 2.30 am when a local resident alerted him to the fire. By the time he reached the spot, flames engulfed the ground floor, and thick smoke made it impossible for residents to enter the building.

As the fire spread upwards and the staircase became inaccessible, a couple remained trapped on an upper floor. Singh first cleared bystanders from the area and stopped a passing truck. Climbing onto its roof, he positioned himself below the balcony where the couple was stranded.

“Due to thick smoke, there was almost no visibility inside the building, and the room was close to collapsing. Despite the flames, Singh carried the man and woman out one by one on his shoulders and lowered them safely onto the truck,” DCP (North) Raja Banthia said.

Ravi Yadav, a tuition teacher rescued along with his wife, said the main exit was completely blocked. “We were on the second floor when the fire broke out. The beat officer reached in time and saved us. After that, he went to the adjoining building to help visually impaired students trapped there,” Yadav said.

Soon after rescuing the couple, Singh was informed that 11 visually impaired students were stranded in the neighbouring building, with the fire threatening to spread. Despite struggling to breathe due to smoke inhalation, he guided all of them through a dark, smoke-filled staircase and brought them out safely.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Bakrid wishes, messages and eid 2026