Rupa Sanyal who teaches botany at Bhairab Ganguly College Belgharia is one of the residents of the 17-storey building in in northeast Kolkata’s Nagerbazar where a fire broke out on the 16th floor on Wednesday.
Sanyal, her husband and their seven-year-old daughter, who has a severe respiratory disorder, stay at a 13-floor apartment. She narrated to The Telegraph how her daughter was rescued on Wednesday.
My daughter who suffers from severe respiratory disorder and needs constant oxygen support was inside the flat along with her attendant when the fire broke out.
I was in my college and was alerted by my daughter’s attendant about the fire.
I immediately asked her to ensure that she follows the guidelines and instructions laid down by the firemen as well as security guards of the building.
I also told her that she must tell them that my daughter needs a constant oxygen supply and she would need assistance if they wanted to evacuate the residents.
Once I reached the complex, I saw to my relief that my daughter had been carried downstairs by the firemen and security guards who used a bedsheet as a makeshift stretcher to bring her down.
By this time the power supply had been turned off. Water was gushing down the stairwell of the building like a cascading waterfall. Realising that I will not be able to go and get my daughter’s medicines,I turned to my medicine shop for help. They immediately sent all the medicines.
We will spend the night at a neighbour’s house.
We got her checked by a doctor and fortunately she is doing alright. The incident has left her a bit shocked.