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Journalism of Courage
After a textile factory fire claimed eight lives in Solapur on Sunday, Chief Fire Officer Rakesh Salunkhe has denied allegations the fire brigade did not have adequate equipment and did not do enough to save five people who were trapped in the building.
He spoke to The Indian Express on Tuesday at Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sarvopchar Rugnalaya Civil Hospital in Solapur, where he has been admitted with burns. He said the hospital has kept him under observation because of his critical injuries.
“If we were there for just two minutes more, all four of us would have died,” Salunkhe said as he described the situation, “Me and four of my firemen went inside climbing on the sheet metal. We had broken through and gone inside. The fire had turned the metal sheets very hot. We jumped down on the sheets from around this window’s height (pointing to the hospital window, around 9 ft). While walking, the sheets were hot and the gum boots melted and slipped, two of us fell down. My colleague was hurt lightly, but my hand and feet got singed. The sheet metal would have collapsed if we were there for more time.”
Speaking about how the operation started, he said, “In the beginning, while the firefighting operations were ongoing, we were told that people were stuck inside. We pitched a ladder and brought three people out of the building. The ambulance was on the way but we did not wait for that. In the police cars and a private car, we took the rescued to the civil hospital.”
It took around 12 hours to bring the five people out of the burning factory. Nine fire brigade vehicles from various cities around Solapur, along with some rescue vehicles, an “uncountable” number of tankers, and 40-45 firefighters were brought to the scene, according to Salunkhe.
A family member of the deceased victims, Junaid Mansuri, has alleged that the fire brigade could not arrange for water and that he had to arrange for private tankers. He has further alleged that the lives of the five people could have been saved if not for the “inadequate equipment and delays”.
However, Salunkhe said the firefighters had put in their best efforts. “All the resources that were available with us were utilised,” he added.
Officials of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and police have indicated that the residence built on top of the factory in an industrial area was illegal.
Before the current posting in Solapur, Salunkhe had worked with the Mumbai fire brigade for 14 years.
