Video shows man trying to escape through smoke in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar hotel fire

NEW DELHI: A foreign national was seen on the terrace attempting to escape the blaze during the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy in Delhi that killed 21 people, including several foreigners, on Wednesday.In the video, a man dressed in a black shirt and cap can be seen desperately trying to escape the blaze, carrying a backpack as he navigates the chaos.Eyewitnesses said scenes of panic unfolded as thick smoke rapidly filled the building. They reported that a woman jumped from the third floor with her child in her arms, while other occupants desperately searched for escape routes. At that time, mattresses laid out on the ground reportedly helped cushion some of the falls.The trader, identified as Riyazuddin Mansuri, along with his staff, rushed to the spot and spread quilts and mattresses on the ground outside the burning building, creating a cushion that allowed several trapped residents to jump to safety.As thick smoke and flames engulfed the hotel and cries for help filled the air, a mattress trader opposite the fire-affected building made a split-second decision that helped save lives. He reportedly sacrificed goods worth nearly Rs 2 lakh to create a makeshift safety net.Mansuri said they were the first to place the mattresses on the ground and that by the time the fire brigade arrived, they had already helped save eight lives. He also said he and his son sustained injuries during the rescue effort.As the fire spread rapidly, several occupants were seen breaking window panes and calling out for help.Trader Riyazuddin’s son Arman told PTI, "I reached the spot after a neighbour informed me about the blaze at 8:30 am. The ground floor was on fire. Nobody could go inside, and come out. People on the upper floors were shouting and asking if they should jump. I immediately brought out around 20 to 25 quilts and mattresses from the shop and spread them outside the building."Arman’s family, who have been running the mattress shop opposite the hotel for around four decades, said several quilts and mattresses were stacked on top of one another to ensure that people jumping onto them would not get injured.(With agency inputs)