Indian student dies in NY fire incident

New York.A 27-year-old Indian man died in a deadly fire incident in New York’s Harlen on Friday. The Indian Embassy in New York identified the man as Fazil Khan and said they are in touch with his friends and family.
A lithium-ion battery in an e-bike caused the fire at a Harlem apartment building, the Daily News added, citing the local fire department as saying.
Taking cognisance of the incident, the Indian Consulate General in New York said that they are in touch with Khan’s family and will “extend all possible assistance” in reparation of Khan’s mortal remains to India.
“Saddened to learn about death of 27 years old Indian national Fazil Khan in an unfortunate fire incident in an apartment building in Harlem, NY.
NewYork is in touch with late Fazil Khan’s family & friends. We continue to extend all possible assistance in reparation of his mortal remains to India.
Indian Consulate General’s post on X.
Khan, a Columbia Journalism School graduate, died at a hospital after he was rescued from the building, the Daily News said in a news report, further adding that 17 other people were also injured in the incident.
According to a local, Akil Jones, the fire started on the top floor of the building, following which people started jumping out of the windows.
“The fire was at the top and people were jumping out of the windows,” news agency ANI quoted Akil Jones, a resident, as saying, further adding that he and his father escaped the fire with only his phone and his keys.

Following the incident, a ‘full vacate’ order was issued by the Department of Buildings and the Red Cross is assisting dozens of people with temporary housing at a school nearby.

“On the third floor, one of the apartment doors was left open where the fire was. The fire was so intense, flames were coming out that door and blocking the stairwell,” Fire Department Chief John Hodgens was saying while speaking on the rescue operation.