Kathua: On Wednesday morning, a tragic fire engulfed a house in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, claiming the lives of six individuals, including a former deputy superintendent of police and his young grandson. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
The victims, including the retired police officer, his daughter, son, and three-year-old grandson, were reportedly trapped inside the burning house. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and authorities are currently investigating the matter.
According to police, locals noticed the house on fire around 2:30am and rushed to rescue its occupants. The house was filled with thick smoke, suffocating its occupants in their sleep, according to the news agency.
The victims were shifted to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Kathua, where six of them, including two minors, were declared ‘brought dead’, according to the officials.
The deceased have been identified as 81-year-old former deputy SP Avtar Krishen Raina, his daughter Barkha Raina, son Takash, Ganga Bhagat, 15-year-old Danish Bhagat and 6-year-old Advik, a police officer said.
The incident has sparked widespread grief and concern, with local residents expressing their condolences to the bereaved families. The loss of life in such a tragic manner has also raised concerns about fire safety measures in the region.
Those injured and undergoing treatment are 61-year-old Swarna (the wife of Avtar Krishen Raina), 40-year-old Neetu Devi, 15-year-old Arun Kumar, and a 69-year-old woman.
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