India, March 6 -- NEW DELHI

Lead fireman Suresh Kumar Pahal, fondly called "Pahal saab" by his colleagues, succumbed to 30% burn injuries he suffered while undertaking firefighting operations on February 22 in Majlis Park at a city hospital on Monday, HT has learnt.

Pahal lived with his family in Ganaur of Sonepat in neighbouring Haryana. He is survived by his wife Rajendri Devi, 50, sons Sachin, 31, and Mohit, 25, and daughters Anjali, and Kusum, identified by their single names.

Speaking to HT, Sachin, a businessman, said that Pahal was first admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. "We then shifted him to Sir Ganga Ram hospital on February 26. But the infection spread to his body and his kidneys failed. He was put on ventilator support two ...