12 die in two separate Madhya Pradesh building fires on Diwali night
Six people died in Katni and six in Seoni after fires broke out in residential buildings during the festival.
Twelve people, including a two-month-old infant, died in two separate building fires in the Katni and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh on Monday, according to reports from India TV, Urban Acres, and Telangana Today.
In Katni district, a fire started around midnight in a three-storey building in Barhi town that housed a crockery shop on the ground floor. Six members of the Agrawal family died in the blaze, including Puran Agrawal, 77, his wife Chandrakala, 74, daughter-in-law Poonam, 35, granddaughters Arya, 14, Anvi, 6, and a two-month-old infant.
Vijayraghavgarh Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Virendra Dhurve said the fire occurred between 12 am and 12:30 am, though the exact cause is still being established. Preliminary suspicions include an electrical short circuit or a lamp.
In Seoni district, a fire broke out between 4 am and 4:30 am at the residence of goldsmith Kundan Lal Soni in Chhapara town. Six people died in the Mahavir Ward incident, identified as Kundan Lal Soni, 75, Rajkumari Soni, 65, Ritu Soni, 42, Smriti Soni, 40, Surya Soni, 45, and Aditya Soni, 16.
SDOP Apoorva Bhalavi stated that ten people were inside the house when the fire started, but four others were rescued and injured. The cause of the Seoni fire has not yet been determined.
In Katni, two other occupants escaped the fire with injuries. Local residents have alleged administrative negligence regarding the firefighting response.