Curated By: Rohit
News18.com
Last Updated: February 25, 2024, 09:42 IST
New York, United States of America (USA)
Fazil Khan, a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School, served as a data journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering inequality and innovation in education. (Image: Fazil's LinkedIn)
The Indian Mission in New York on Sunday expressed condolences following the tragic death of a 27-year-old Indian journalist in a fire incident at an apartment building in Harlem.
The fire was sparked by a lithium-ion battery, in which 17 other people were injured at a New York City apartment building. “Saddened to learn about the death of 27-year-old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY, the Indian Mission in New York said in a post on X.
Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Mr. Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY. @IndiainNewYork is in touch with late Mr. Fazil Khan’s family & friends.We continue to extend all possible assistance in…— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) February 25, 2024
Fazil Khan, a graduate of the Columbia Journalism School, served as a data journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering inequality and innovation in education, at Teachers College, Columbia University. “We learned Saturday that The Hechinger Report’s data reporter Fazil Khan died in a fire in the New York City building where he lived. We are devastated by the loss of such a great colleague and wonderful person, and our hearts go out to his family. He will be dearly missed,” The Hechinger Report wrote on X.
The Indian officials in New York are in touch with Fazil Khan’s family and friends. “We continue to extend all possible assistance in reparation of his mortal remains to India,” the mission added. The Indian mission assured that it is in close contact with Khan’s family and friends, extending full support in repatriating his mortal remains to India.
When escaping a fire, remember to close the door to prevent smoke & fire from spreading. Chief of Dept. describes what #FDNY firefighters encountered at Friday’s fatal 2-alarm at 2 St. Nicholas Pl. FFs reached the 3rd floor where the fire originated & where a door was left open. pic.twitter.com/o0tdcFmKcP— FDNY (@FDNY) February 24, 2024
Friday’s two-alarm fire started around 2 pm on the third floor of a six-story building in Harlem. According to Joseph Pfeifer, the Fire Department’s first deputy commissioner, flames and heavy smoke trapped residents in the hallway above.
Upon arrival, officials found numerous residents on the building’s fire escapes. There were also people trapped, hanging off windows on the fifth floor, Chief of Department John Hodgens said. Three firefighters were lowered by rope from the roof to rescue them. “We usually have one of these a year or two. This was three at one fire,” Hodgens said. “A very heroic action, and all of those people unfortunately are in critical condition, but they’re at the hospital.”
(With agency inputs)
