A fireman in the Ludhiana Stock Exchange, 49-year-old Balbir Singh was honoured by the deputy commissioner on August 15 the same year.

State governor also respected his valorous attitude with the Red and White Bravery Award in January 2005.

Balbir said, “I had done course in fire safety and offered to climb to the roof top to save the employees. As no policeman was also ready to follow me, DSP RS Brar followed me and we rescued 19 persons. The DSP had sent my name for the bravery award.”

Singh said, “Although the incident is four and a half years old, people remember me even today. Today I am junior engineer in the same department and I organise regular training programmes to train staff in tackling fire.”

“Recently, an LPG cylinder got fire near my house on the Rahon Road. I alone extinguished the fire and saved many lives,” he added.

Balbir’s two daughters and a son call their father a hero. He blushes and says, “I did my job as a dutiful citizen.”