Nineteen-year-old Siddharameshwar Hanumant Humanabade remembers the evening of December 17 like it was yesterday. The cries of patients screaming for help from the windows of the ESIC hospital in Andheri continue to ring in his ears even two weeks after the fire, which claimed 11 lives.
However, what eases the discomfort is the realisation that he was able to save 10 lives when many had lost hope of making it out alive.
Mr. Humanabade, an agent with food delivery app Swiggy, was on Tuesday felicitated by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Labour and Employement, Santosh Kumar Gangwar, at a ceremony in New Delhi. He was awarded a cheque of ₹1 lakh by the Centre for braving the fire and rescuing 10 patients trapped inside the hospital.
Mr. Humanabade requested the government for money to fund his education and a government job to support his family. He said, “I told the minister about my family’s condition and my desire to study further. I asked him if he could fund my education and provide a government job. Though he could not assure anything, he has said that he will try. His assistant has given me his card and has asked me to call in case I need help.”
While some patients were rescued by the fire brigade, some jumped out of the building in fear. Eleven people, including a newborn, died in the fire and several others were injured. Mr. Humanabade, who inhaled toxic smoke while rescuing patients, was rushed to Seven Hills Hospital. He was discharged three days later.
Speaking to The Hindu shortly after returning to the city on Tuesday, Mr. Humanabade expressed contentment and satisfaction at his bravery, and vowed to never stop helping others. He said, “I know that I could not have saved more that 10 patients. But if I had stood outside like others clicking pictures and shooting videos on my cell phone, I could have never slept in peace.”
Mr. Humanabade, who cleared his State Secondary Education exam two years ago, could not pursue his studies owing to poverty. He joined Swiggy 15 days before the incident. He said, “I had to deliver food in the vicinity. As I was passing by the hospital, I saw thick, black smoke. When I went closer, I could see flames raging. Without a second thought, I parked my bike on the roadside and rushed inside.”
Seeing people cry out for help, Mr. Humanabade, a native of Karnataka, climbed the ladder placed by the fire brigade. While he was making his way up, two patients jumped from the window. “I became numb when I saw them jump from the building. It happened just before I could reach them. I hurriedly climbed to the fourth-floor ward. One by one, I helped people out. I then opened the door of the ward and used my mobile phone’s flashlight to see if there was anybody there. I then started having difficulty in breathing and decided to step out.”
Mr. Humanabade said he did not fear even once during the rescue mission. “All I was focused on were the cries of those patients and their faces. At the back of my mind, I knew they had families. They meant something to somebody,” he said.
Emphasising on the need to assist people in hours of distress, Mr. Humanabade said, “There is always a way to help, but we need more selfless helpers. Life is not a joke.” Mr. Humanabade wants to use the money to educate his brother and support his family. He said that his spirit to help others will never perish. “I have been helping people in distress since childhood. I like it when others are happy and when I am able to be of help to someone.”
Praising him for his bravery, the ESIC Hospital authorities announced on Tuesday that they will taking care of Mr. Humanabade’s medical expenses. Dr. BB Gupta, medical superintendent of ESIC Hospital, said, “I have been told that the delivery boy acted very bravely that day and helped in evacuating patients when it was not really his job. We recognise his effort. His hospital bills will also be taken care of.”
(With inputs from Tanvi Deshpande)