New Delhi:

An Indian man was killed in a lethal condominium hearth in New York’s Harlem brought on by a lithium-ion battery. Residents of the St. Nicholas Place condominium constructing jumped out of home windows to flee the devastating blaze that injured 17 of them.

The Indian Embassy in New York recognized the sufferer as 27-year-old Fazil Khan and stated they’re in contact along with his family and friends.

“Saddened to be taught in regards to the demise of 27-year-old Indian nationwide Mr Fazil Khan in an unlucky hearth incident in an condominium constructing in Harlem, NY. India in New York is in contact with the late Mr Fazil Khan’s household and pals. We proceed to increase all potential help in reparation of his mortal stays to India,” the embassy stated.

An alumnus of the Columbia Journalism Faculty, Mr Fazil Khan was working as a knowledge journalist with The Hechinger Report – a nonprofit newsroom reporting on inequality and innovation in schooling. It’s primarily based at Lecturers School, Columbia College.

In accordance with his LinkedIn profile, Mr Khan started his profession as a copyeditor at Enterprise Commonplace in 2018 and labored as a correspondent at CNN-News18 in Delhi earlier than shifting to New York in 2020 for his graduate diploma from Columbia College.

Mourning their “nice colleague and a beautiful particular person”, The Hechinger Report wrote: “We realized Saturday that The Hechinger Report’s information reporter Fazil Khan died in a fireplace within the New York Metropolis constructing the place he lived. We’re devastated by the lack of such an amazing colleague and great particular person, and our hearts exit to his household. He can be dearly missed.”

Dozens have been displaced within the hearth that witnessed dramatic rope rescues from the condominium constructing. A number of individuals had been pressured to leap or use the hearth escape to save lots of their lives.

Narrating the grisly tragedy, an area stated, “The hearth was on the prime and folks had been leaping out of the home windows.” One other resident stated he and his father left house with solely his telephone and keys.

Eighteen individuals had been rescued from the condominium – of them 12 had been admitted to an area hospital the place 4 are in important situation, ANI reported quoting CBS Information.

The Division of Buildings has issued a “full vacate” order after the hearth and the Crimson Cross is aiding the affected with short-term housing at a college close by.

Inspectors, firefighters, and metropolis officers are assessing the harm to the constructing and investigating the hearth.

In accordance with the New York Metropolis Fireplace Division FDNY, lithium-ion batteries precipitated 267 fires, 150 accidents, and 18 deaths within the metropolis in 2023. This 12 months thus far, there have been 24 lithium-ion battery hearth investigations.