12 killed in two separate fire incidents in Madhya Pradesh on Diwali
Six members of two different families died in Seoni and Katni districts during the festival.
Twelve people were killed and four others injured in two separate fire incidents in the Madhya Pradesh districts of Seoni and Katni on Monday, according to reports by Hindustan Times, India TV and Telangana Today.
In Katni district, six members of a family died after a fire broke out in a three-storey building in Barhi town around midnight on Monday. The building housed a crockery shop on the ground floor and the family resided on the upper floors.
The deceased in Katni have been identified as shop owner Puran Agrawal (77), his wife Chandrakala (74), daughter-in-law Poonam (35), granddaughters Arya (14) and Anvi (6), and a two-month-old infant. Two other occupants escaped the fire with injuries.
In Seoni district, six members of a family died when a fire broke out at the three-storey house of goldsmith Kundan Lal Soni (75) in Chhapara town between 4 am and 4.30 am on Monday. The deceased were identified as Rajkumari Soni (65), Ritu Soni (42), Smriti Soni (40), Surya Soni (45) and Aditya Soni (16). Four others were rescued and admitted to hospital.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh for the families of the deceased. He also spoke to the victims' families over the phone to offer condolences.
The exact causes of the fires in both districts are yet to be established, though officials noted suspicions of an electrical short circuit or a diya.