2-yr-old among 7 charred to death in Ludhiana

Ludhiana, April 20

Seven members of a family, including a two-year-old child, were burnt alive in a fire that broke out in their hut here in the wee hours of Wednesday, the police have said.

They were migrant labourers from Bihar and were asleep in their hut near the municipal garbage dump yard on the Tibba road here.

Sub-inspector Baldev Raj said preliminary probe suggested that it was an accidental fire that broke out because of short-circuit. Among the deceased were a couple and their five children. They were identified as Suresh Sahni (55), his wife Runa Devi (50), and their children Rakhi Kumari (15), Manisha Kumari (10), Chanda Kumari (8), Geeta Kumari (6) and Sunny (2).

Rakhi’s wedding was due next month. Her father had bought some items for the wedding, but that were reduced to ashes. The family made ends meet from rag-picking from the municipal landfill site on the Tajpur road.

Sahni’s son Rajesh Sahni (17) was the lone survivor as he slept in his friend’s shanty last night. “I was sleeping in my friend’s hut when I heard the cries. I woke up, ran outside and was shocked to see my shanty in flames. I, along with others, tried to douse the flames, but the fire was too intense. I heard the screams of my family, but I was helpless,” a wailing Rajesh said.

A team of forensic experts and the police reached the spot to conduct the investigation. Rajesh did not suspect a foul play. The police initiated the inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC.

Shanty locked from inside

The shanty that caught fire, resulting in the death of seven members of a family, was locked from inside. “In the past, cash and other valuables were stolen from our hut twice. So my father bolted the shanty from inside,” said Rajesh Sahni, the lone survivor.