Fire fighter says sorry, could not save child

"I feel sorry, I could not save the child," said fire officer Mohan Lal, who took out the boy's body from the fire-ravaged building in Southeast Delhi's Zakir Nagar early Tuesday.

Lal, was among the four fire department officials who were injured in the blaze at the four-storey residential building. The 40-year-old suffered injuries during the rescue operation.

"I have never done this much of hard work before. During the operation, a moment came when we thought we would die here. However, we managed to come out of the building and rescue residents, Lal said.

But, despite he saving a lot of lives, Lal said he was not feeling happy because he could not save the child. "I was carrying him. He was declared brought dead at the hospital," he said.

Delhi Fire Service Director Vipin Kental said the long stretch leading to the building was dotted with several lanes and bylanes, making it difficult for fire engines to reach there after the fire started at 2.30am.

The lane was so congested that only one vehicle could pass through it at a time, he said adding several vehicles were parked on roads and public had gathered in the area.

He said the stilt vehicle parking was closed from three sides with the stairs being at the far end. "We had to cross the burning vehicles to reach the staircase which was filled with smoke. There were seven cars and 19 motorcycles parked and were burning," he said.

To avoid delay, the firemen entered the building without oxygen masks, he said, explaining "it is difficult to lift people on your back when you are carrying a oxygen cylinder."