12 killed in separate overnight Madhya Pradesh fires

Police said an earthen lamp may have triggered the Katni fire, while the Seoni blaze is under investigation.

Six members each of two families were killed in separate incidents of fire in Katni and Seoni districts of Madhya Pradesh during Diwali celebrations early on Monday, police said.

According to police, the fire broke out in a three-storey building, owned by Kundan Lal Soni (75), at 4.30 am in Chhapara town. (HT FILE)

In Katni, an earthen lamp triggered a massive blaze inside a three-storey building, killing six people across three generations, including a two-month-old infant who was found dead in his mother’s lap.

According to police, the deceased were identified as Puran Agrawal (77), his wife Chandrakala (74), daughter-in-law Poonam, and granddaughters Arya (14), Anvi (6), and the infant. Two people managed to escape, an official said.

Katni superintendent of police (SP) Abhinav Vishwakarma said the fire broke out on the upper floors, situated above a crockery shop. “Preliminary investigation and survivors informed police that a fire started from an earthen lamp kept near a coffee machine and later spread quickly through the house,” he said.

According to police, the fire broke out in a three-storey building, owned by Kundan Lal Soni (75), at 4.30 am in Chhapara town.

The deceased were identified as Kundan Lal Soni (75), his wife Rajkumari Soni (65), daughters-in-law Ritu Soni (42) and Smriti Soni (40), relative Surya Soni (45), and grandson Aditya Soni (16).

Chhapara sub-divisional police officer Apoorv Bhalavi said it took firefighters several hours to bring the fire under control. Soni’s neighbours tried to fight the flames using water buckets before firefighters arrived. Police said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Chief minister Mohan Yadav condoled the deaths.

“Humble tributes to the deceased. The state government has directed that assistance of ₹4 lakh each be provided to the families of the deceased,” he wrote on X.