Two children burnt to death, four injured in Ludhiana shanty fire

The condition of the injured, who are undergoing treatment at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, were stated to be in a critical state

Two children were burnt to death, while four of their siblings suffered serious burn injuries after their shanty caught fire from an oil lamp in Mandiani village of Dakha late on Sunday.

Two children were burnt to death, while four others were injured in a shanty fire at Ludhiana’s Mandiani village. (HT File)

All six children were aged between three to fifteen years.

The condition of the injured, who are undergoing treatment at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, were stated to be in a critical state.

The two deceased children have been identified as Shukra, 7, and Mohan, 3, while the injured victims are Parveen Kumar, 11, Komal, 10, Aman, 5, and Radhika, 3.

The children, along with their mother Sunita, were sleeping in the shanty and had lit an oil lamp to keep themselves warm amid the chilly weather.

Suddenly, the shanty caught fire from the oil lamp. The plastic sheet that was being used as the structure’s roof soon melted and the remains fell on the sleeping children. Their father, Bodhan Ram, was not home at the time of the incident.

Sharing further details, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Paramjit Singh from Dakha police station, who is investigating the case, said locals attempted to douse the flames by throwing buckets of water soon after witnessing the blaze emerging from the shanty. The children, however, had already suffered major burn injuries.

Their mother Sunita also suffered burn injuries while attempting to bring her children to safety.

The victims were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana. Sensing the seriousness of their injuries, doctors referred them to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where Shukra and Mohan succumbed to their injuries. The other children have sustained over 50% burns.

The ASI added that police have initiated inquest proceedings under section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) after recording the statement of the victim’s mother.