Bhadohi fire: Toll rises to 6 after 70-yr-old succumbs to burn injuries

The fire reportedly took place around 9:30 pm on Sunday when around 150 people were said to be present at the pandal. Investigating officials have said inflammable items used for decoration, such as halogen lights covered with coloured papers, caused the fire.

VARANASI: With one more person succumbing to burn injuries, the death toll in the fire accident at a Durga puja pandal at Bhadohi’s Narthua village rose to six on Tuesday even as 69 persons were still undergoing at hospitals in Bhadohi, Prayagraj and Varanasi.

File photo: Charred remains of a Durga Puja pandal after a fire broke out during in Bhadohi (PTI)

“Seventy-year-old Shivpujan Kumar, who was undergoing treatment at BHU Trauma Centre, died on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 69 people are still undergoing treatment at hospitals in different cities,” Bhadohi district magistrate Gaurang Rathi said.

“Naveen Kumar (10), Jai Devi (60) and Aarti Devi (48), who was referred to BHU Trauma Centre in Varanasi, have died during treatment; Sujal alias Harshvardhan Kumar (8) died in Bhadohi. Ankush Soni (12) died on Sunday night in Bhadohi,” the DM said.

The fire reportedly took place around 9:30 pm on Sunday when around 150 people were said to be present at the pandal. Investigating officials have said inflammable items used for decoration, such as halogen lights covered with coloured papers, caused the fire.

District superintendent of police Anil Kumar said a FIR against members of the puja committee concerned was lodged at the Aurai police station, as they were found to be negligent in taking the necessary precautions while organising the event. “One person has been named in the FIR and while the rest are unnamed,” said Kumar.

Meanwhile, the district administration and the police have released guidelines for puja committees so that such accidents do not recur in future.