A day after a tragic fire claimed the lives of 21 people, most of them students aged between 14 to 17 years, horrific tales of how the minors tried to escape the fire emerged. Once the fire engulfed the third and fourth floors of the Takshila Complex, where the students attended their coaching class, many students panicked and jumped off the respective floors they were trapped in.
The fall killed at least three students – Khushali Kiritbhai Kokadiya (17), Krishna Sureshbhai Bhekariya (21) and Rutu Ishwarbhai Doda (18) – reported The Indian Express. At least 12 teenagers died of burn injuries.
Most of the students were expecting their Class 12 results on Saturday, 25 May. At least three of the deceased girls have cleared their Class 12 commerce exams. NDTV reported that since the summer vacations were on, the students who were preparing for their Class 10 and Class 12 boards exams were in the coaching centre when the fire started.
Here are the names of at least 20 people who died in the fire:
Rutu Sanjay Sataria (F) -19 years old
Yashvi Dinesh Kavadia (F) -17 years old
Hasti Hitesh Surani (F) -18 years old
Yesha Ramesh Khandela (F)-17 years old
Drishti Vinu Khunt (F) -18 years old
Jhanvi Chatur Vasoya (F) -17 years old
Kruti Nilesh Dayal (F) -17 years old
Mansi Pravin Vasani (F) -17 years old
Grishma Jayesh Gajera (F) -22 years old
Isha Kantibhai Kakadia (F) -15 years old
Jhanvi Mahesh Vekaria (F) -17 years old
Vanshavi Jayesh Kanani (F) -18 years old
Krishna Suresh Bhikhadia (F) -21 years old
Khushali Kiritbhai Kothadia (F) - 17 years old
Rumi Ramesh Balar (F) -17 years old
Rudh Ishwarbhai Donda (M) -18 years old
Ansh Mansukhbhai Dummar (M) -18 years old
Meet Dilip Sanghani (M) -17 years old
Nisarg Paresh Kathrodia (M) -17 years old
Happy Deepak Pangani (F) -16 years old
Family members of a Class 12 commerce student, Yashvi Kevadia, told The Indian Express that they last spoke to her at 5:30 pm when she told her father that there was a fire in the building. Her body was later on recovered from the site.
“She called me at 5:30 pm, telling me about the fire. After that, when we tried to reach her, her phone was switched off. She was expecting her board results and wanted to become a fashion designer.”Yashvi’s father, Dinesh Kevadia, to The Indian Express
Many onlookers reportedly came to the rescue of the students who were jumping out of the building. Photo of one of the rescuers, who reportedly saved the lives of at least two girls who fell, is being shared widely online.
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