The two broke windowpanes of a burning building with their helmets and evacuated residents even before the fire brigade arrived.The timely action of two alert traffic cops managed to save over 30 lives, as fire broke out in the 13-storey Goodwill Paradise building in Kharghar on Tuesday.The two Navi Mumbai traffic policemen, Prakash Patil and Manesh Vachchav, were near Belpada when they received the information about the fire. Without wasting any time, the duo, attached to the Kalamboli traffic police division, rushed to the building. Then instead of waiting for the fire brigade to arrive, they broke the window panes with their helmets, and evacuated all residents, even as the fire raged on.“We rode to the building on our bikes and were there within minutes of receiving the information,” Patil told Mirror. He described the scene as horrific. “Many people had gathered and were simply looking on. Vachchav and I wasted no time in rushing in,” he said. The two ran up the stairs and checked each floor. “The stairway had a glass façade, which was trapping heat and smoke. We used our helmets to break the glass panes,” Vachchav said.Patil said when they reached the third floor, they heard somebody screaming for help. “Everything around the corridors and stairway was ablaze. The fire was moving to the higher floors. We kicked open the doors and found women and children inside. They were thinking that it would be safer indoors. They were all crying and had blank expressions on their faces,” Vachchav said.While Vachchav started getting out the residents, Patil went inside each flat looking for anyone stranded. “I also made sure that all gas cylinder knobs were turned off. Unfortunately, most had left it on,” Patil said. The two also made best use of the hose pipes that the building was equipped with for fire fighting. Fortunately, it was working.Nearly 25 minutes after the two cops entered the building, the fire brigade reached the spot and doused the flames. Assistant commissioner of police, Navi Mumbai, S B Suryawanshi said, “The two cops undertook a risk and saved many lives. It is truly a commendable act.”Meanwhile, Fire department officials said, “The fire started on the fourth floor and gradually spread upwards. It appears to be a case of short circuit. All flats between the third and sixth floors are fully gutted.”