Mohammed Riyazuddin donates mattresses after blaze

Mohammed Riyazuddin Mansuri, a 61-year-old mattress trader in Delhi’s Hauz Rani area, pulled mattresses and quilts from his shop on June 3 and spread them outside a burning hotel so trapped guests could jump to safety. Indian media reports said the fire at the Flourish Stay bed-and-breakfast in Malviya Nagar killed 21 people and injured dozens more. Riyazuddin and his son Arman said they emptied their stock onto the road as smoke engulfed the building and people began calling for help from upper floors. Local residents and police joined the rescue before and after fire crews arrived, according to witness accounts and press reports. ### Who is Mohammed Riyazuddin Mansuri, and what did he do? Riyazuddin Mansuri runs a roadside mattress shop opposite the hotel, according to The Hindu and PTI reports carried by ThePrint and NDTV. When the blaze broke out around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, he said he quickly dragged mattresses from his shed and laid them below the windows to cushion people who were preparing to jump. (theprint.in) Arman Mansuri, his son, said he brought out around 20 to 25 quilts and mattresses after a neighbor alerted him to the fire. NDTV and ThePrint, citing PTI, reported that the family also handed over bedsheets and quilt covers for the injured and for bodies recovered from the building. (thehindu.com) ### How many people were saved by the mattresses? Riyazuddin told reporters that eight people were saved after jumping onto the mattresses, while Arman said several who landed on them suffered only minor injuries. India Today reported that the father and son said they helped save eight lives and assisted in rescuing more than 20 people overall. (ndtv.com) The Hindu reported that Riyazuddin said he laid out around 15 mattresses, while NDTV and PTI reports described the number as roughly 20 to 25 quilts and mattresses. The variation appears to reflect different witness counts during a fast-moving rescue. ### What is known about the fire itself? (theprint.in) The fire broke out at the Flourish Stay B&B in the congested Hauz Rani area of Malviya Nagar on the morning of June 3, according to NDTV, India Today, The Hindu and PTI. Reports said the five-storey building had a single entry-exit point, and some windows were sealed or difficult to access, complicating the rescue. (thehindu.com) India Today reported that at least 58 people were rescued and taken to hospitals, while 21 were declared dead. NDTV said the dead included nine Indians and 12 foreigners, and ThePrint, citing PTI, reported that the toll included at least 11 foreigners and that 19 of 35 injured remained in critical condition, indicating some details were still being reconciled in early reporting. (ndtv.com) ### What did Riyazuddin say about the loss? Riyazuddin said he lost about 200,000 rupees worth of goods in the rescue. NDTV and PTI quoted him as saying he gave away all the goods he could get his hands on and did not distinguish between victims by religion. PTI reported that Riyazuddin and his son were also injured during the rescue. (indiatoday.in) Social media posts amplified his remarks after video from the scene circulated online on June 3 and June 4. ### Who else helped at the scene? Mohammed Israr Khan, another local resident, told The Hindu he rushed to the site after a call from his brother and joined other men in pulling victims out and carrying them to ambulances. (ndtv.com) He said the smoke was so thick that rescuers could barely see inside. (theprint.in) Local accounts cited by The Hindu said the area around Max Hospital often houses patients and relatives in budget hotels, including foreign nationals visiting for treatment. That detail helps explain why multiple reports said several of the dead were foreign guests. ### What happens next in the case? (thehindu.com) Delhi authorities are examining the circumstances of the June 3 fire, including reported safety gaps at the Flourish Stay property. India Today said officials alleged the establishment was operating without a fire no-objection certificate, while witness accounts reported by The Hindu described a single exit and inaccessible windows. (thehindu.com) June 4 coverage in Indian outlets continued to focus on the rescue, the death toll, and the role of local residents including Riyazuddin and Arman Mansuri. Further updates are expected from Delhi Police, fire officials and hospitals treating the injured. (indiatoday.in)