New York, NY – A 27-year-old Indian journalist based in New York City tragically lost his life in a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in Manhattan. Fazil Khan, who worked with The Hechinger Report, a media company focused on education innovation and inequality, was a victim of the fire that broke out in a residential building in Harlem, Manhattan.
The fire incident resulted in injuries to approximately 17 individuals, with Khan being the unfortunate casualty. The Consulate General of India in New York expressed condolences on Khan’s passing and pledged to assist in repatriating his remains to his family in India.
Khan, a data reporter at The Hechinger Report and an alumnus of Columbia Journalism School, was remembered by his colleagues as a dedicated professional and a kind-hearted person. The Hechinger Report shared the tragic news of Khan’s passing and expressed deep sorrow at the loss of such a valued team member.
The fire, which started on the 3rd floor of the building, prompted a response from the New York City Fire Department, with victims found on the fire escape and hanging out of windows on the fifth floor. Despite the efforts of firefighters, some individuals were trapped on the 5th floor, leading to critical injuries.
Joseph Pfeifer, the Fire Department’s first deputy commissioner, confirmed that one of the critically injured victims succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. However, the identity of the victim was not disclosed at that time. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries and the importance of fire safety measures in residential buildings.