Two-month-old dies after auto catches fire mid-journey

MUMBAI: A two-month old injured after an autorickshaw caught fire mid-journey in Govandi on Sunday night died in hospital on Monday. She was with her mother and

MUMBAI: A two-month old injured after an autorickshaw caught fire mid-journey in Govandi on Sunday night died in hospital on Monday. She was with her mother and five other children, when the vehicle caught fire.

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On Monday, the vehicle was inspected to ascertain the cause of fire. The incident took place around 9pm. Two women, Khatija Qureshi, 39, and Sajeeda Qureshi, 30, and their six children took the autorickshaw from their house in Shivaji Nagar to Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to take a train to Karnataka for a wedding.

The CNG-run autorickshaw suddenly caught fire, injuring the occupants and the driver Sharif Shaikh. The fire spread rapidly, leaving no way for the passengers to get out. They were sent to Sion hospital.

“The rickshaw has been inspected by RTO officers. We are also waiting for the fire brigade’s report. We are checking if there were any changes made to the kit,” said a police officer from the Shivaji Nagar police station.