Nitish Kumar condoles Indore fire tragedy deaths, announces ex-gratia
Patna, March 19
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, on Thursday, expressed deep condolences over the death of six people from Kishanganj district, who lost their lives in a devastating fire incident in Madhya Pradesh's Indore.
In his condolence message, the Bihar Chief Minister prayed for strength and courage to the bereaved families during this difficult time.
He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the next of kin of the deceased.
Additionally, directions have been issued to the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi to ensure the dignified transportation of the mortal remains to their native villages in Bihar.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday between 3 and 4 a.m. at Brijeshwari Enclave under the jurisdiction of Tilak Nagar police station in Indore.
A massive fire engulfed a three-storey building, claiming eight people, including six members of a family from Bihar.
According to preliminary reports, the fire is suspected to have originated from an electric car that was parked outside the house and connected for charging.
A short circuit allegedly caused the vehicle to catch fire, and the flames quickly spread to the entire building.
The intensity of the blaze was further aggravated by explosions in LPG cylinders inside the house, leaving little time for occupants to escape.
The deceased from Bihar have been identified as Vijay Sethia (65), Suman (60), Manoj (65), Simran (30), Chhotu Sethia (22), and Rashi Sethia (12), all residents of the Town Police Station area in Kishanganj.
Another individual also lost their life in the incident, while three others sustained serious burn injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.
According to local eyewitnesses, Vijay Sethia, a cosmetics businessman, had been residing in Kishanganj for nearly two decades.
He was suffering from oral cancer and had recently travelled to Indore with his family for treatment.
He had undergone surgery at the Kokilaben Hospital and was staying at the residence of relatives in Brijeshwari Enclave at the time of the incident.
Indore Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh said that authorities received information about the fire around 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
Preliminary findings suggest that a family gathering was underway when the fire broke out, leading to a catastrophic situation.
"The fire spread rapidly through the building and triggered LPG cylinder explosion. Six bodies were recovered from one floor, while another casualty was confirmed later. In total, seven people have died, and three individuals were rescued," the Indore Police Commissioner added.
The incident has plunged the entire Kishanganj locality into grief, as an entire family was killed in the tragedy.
Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is so devastating. A family travels for cancer treatment and meets such a fate. It highlights a serious issue – the safety of electric vehicle charging, especially overnight in residential areas. Authorities need to urgently frame stricter guidelines.
The loss of a 12-year-old child, Rashi, is the most painful part of this news. May their souls rest in peace. While the financial aid is necessary, we also need better fire safety awareness. How many LPG cylinders were inside? Were there no fire exits? So many questions.
Respectfully, while the CM's response is appropriate, Rs 2 lakh feels inadequate for a life lost, especially when the family was already burdened with medical expenses. The system needs to re-evaluate compensation amounts to match today's realities.
A terrible accident. It's good that the Bihar government is stepping in to help their citizens in another state. The Resident Commissioner's office in Delhi can really ease the process for the grieving family. Hope the injured recover soon.
This is why we need mandatory fire audits in residential buildings, even smaller ones. A short circuit in a car shouldn't lead to 8 deaths. The LPG cylinder explosions point to a lack of basic safety. So preventable. Thoughts with the families.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.