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A tragic incident took place in Bakhtiyarpur, around 50 kilometres from Bihar’s capital, Patna, on Saturday night after a massive fire broke out at a bike parts shop and the adjoining house in the Purani Bypass area. The fire spread rapidly, leaving the people inside with little time to escape. Three people, including a mother-in-law, her daughter-in-law and a six-month-old baby girl, were burnt alive in the blaze.
The baby’s parents managed to save themselves by jumping from the roof of the house. However, the baby’s mother, Moni Kumari, suffered a leg fracture in the incident. Following the fire, panic spread across the area. Local police and fire brigade teams reached the spot after receiving information and brought the blaze under control after considerable efforts.
Three people burnt alive in fire
The fire broke out at a bike parts shop and the house located behind it in the Purani Bypass area of Bakhtiyarpur. The family of shop owner Pankaj Kumar reportedly lived in the house behind the shop. The flames quickly spread through the house, leaving those inside with little opportunity to escape. Three people died in the fire. They have been identified as 45-year-old Reema Devi, her 70-year-old mother-in-law Geeta Devi and six-month-old Sundari Kumari. Reema Devi was the wife of shop owner Pankaj Kumar, while Geeta Devi was his mother. Six-month-old Sundari Kumari was reportedly his niece.
Baby’s parents jumped from roof to escape
According to the information available, the six-month-old baby had come to Bakhtiyarpur with her parents. The baby’s mother, Moni Kumari, and father, Shivam Kumar, were residents of Hisua in Nawada. As the fire spread through the house, the two reached the roof and jumped down to escape the flames. Moni Kumari fractured her leg in the process. Both were sent to the hospital for treatment.
The incident led to panic in the area, while emergency teams rushed to the spot.
Fire brought under control
After receiving information about the incident, local police and fire brigade personnel reached the spot. Firefighters worked for a considerable period before bringing the blaze under control. However, by the time the fire was extinguished, three people had already died.
Cause of fire not yet known
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established. Police are investigating the incident and trying to determine how the fire started at the bike parts shop and adjoining house. The incident has left the area in mourning. The deaths of the mother-in-law, daughter-in-law and the six-month-old girl have left the family and local residents in shock.
(Reported by Bittu Kumar from Patna)
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