Fire tragedies killed twelve members of two families in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni and Seoni districts on Diwali night. The incidents turned the festival into a time of deep mourning.
The first disaster struck a three-storey building in Barhi town of Katni district around midnight. Flames broke out in a ground-floor crockery shop and quickly spread to upper residential floors.
Trapped family members were sleeping upstairs when thick smoke enveloped the rooms. Six victims died inside the building before rescue teams could extract them from the growing inferno.
Rescuers pulled seventy-seven-year-old Puran Agrawal from the wreckage early in the morning. They recovered five more bodies after breaking a wall using a heavy excavator machine.
The deceased included Puran Agrawal, his wife Chandrakala, daughter-in-law Poonam, two young children, and a two-month-old infant. Two family members managed to escape the burning building during the initial moments.
Local residents reported serious equipment failures during the initial firefighting efforts. They claimed that responding fire tenders arrived with damaged and non-functional water pipes.
Additional fire engines from nearby municipalities later joined the operation. Firefighters eventually brought the massive blaze under control after hours of intense effort.
Police officials suspect either a decorative diya or a short circuit caused the blaze. Authorities are conducting a full investigation to establish the exact cause of the fire.
The second tragedy occurred around three in the morning in Chhapara town of Seoni district. A sudden fire engulfed the residence of bullion trader Kundan Soni while everyone slept.
Six victims lost their lives inside the home. The deceased included Kundan Lal Soni, Rajkumari Soni, Ritu Soni, Smriti Soni, Surya Soni, and sixteen-year-old Aditya Soni.
Rescue teams saved four other family members from the burning house. Emergency workers immediately rushed the survivors, including two minors, to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Police confirmed ten people were inside the house when the fire started. The rapid spread of flames gave the sleeping residents very little time to reach safety.
Investigators have not yet determined what triggered the destructive blaze in Seoni district. Officers are actively examining the site to pinpoint the origin of the fire.
The twin tragedies have exposed critical gaps in regional emergency preparedness. Local authorities face growing public criticism over inadequate fire safety arrangements and delayed response protocols.
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