Six members of a family, including six-month-old twin girls, were killed after a fire broke out in a three-storey residential building at Lesari Gate in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut late on Monday.
It is suspected that an electrical short circuit caused the fire to break out on the ground floor of the building, which was used to store clothes, while the male family members were outside performing evening prayers. By the time the upstairs residents realized what was happening, the flames had engulfed the basement and spread to the stairs, preventing escape. Neighbors were able to rescue six people trapped on the first floor using a ladder.
Police and fire brigades were unable to reach the upper floor due to the intense heat, heavy smoke, and the narrow corridor leading to the building. Firefighters eventually reached the site through the rooftops of nearby homes and broke down a wall to gain access. They found five children unconscious. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Seven people who were trapped inside were eventually rescued.
An elderly family member suffered burns and was taken for treatment. Firefighters battled the fire for about two hours before it was brought under control.
Police Inspector Aayush Vikram Singh said that the fire department and police responded immediately. He added that the crowded area made it difficult for firefighters to reach it.
Police said some local residents claimed the fire may have been sparked by a gas leak. The exact cause is under investigation. A large stock of fabrics stored inside the building is believed to have exacerbated the fire.
Chief Firefighter Surendra Singh said that the fire has been extinguished, the bodies have been sent for autopsy, and the injured are receiving treatment. A detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.
