Man burned to death in rented Gurugram EWS flat; cause of fire unknown: Official

Senior police official said it appears to be an accident but they are investigating to rule out any foul play as the way the body was found sitting raises doubt

Updated on: Jan 19, 2023, 17:33:17 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

In a tragic incident, a 46-year-old man was burned to death after his rented EWS flat caught fire in fifth floor of Tata Raisina Residency in Sector 59 on Thursday, said officials.

The deceased was a resident of Jharkhand and used to work as a driver, police said.

Gulshan Kalra, deputy director (technical), Haryana Fire and Emergency Services, said the flat caught fire at around 12pm and the man was found burned to death sitting in the bed while other family members were out.

“The exact cause of fire is not immediately known,” he said.

Also Read: Man burned to death after truck hit & drags him in Siliguri

Kalra said they received information around 12:25pm and three fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

Residents had noticed the smoke and raised an alarm. They even tried to extinguish the fire but the person could not be saved.

Prima facie, according to police, the incident appears to be a case of fire due to short circuit, but there is circumstantial evidence for which the police will investigate further.

Preet Pal Sangwan, assistant commissioner of police (crime) said, “It appears to be an accident, but we are investigating to rule out any foul play. The way the body was found sitting raises doubt. Entire house was doused in fire,” said the police.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More