A severe fire broke out in a multi-story house in Dhanbad’s Sarraydhela area on Monday night, leading to a tragic loss of life. Two people, identified as 22-year-old Prashant Kumar alias Golu and his 70-year-old grandmother Chintamani Devi, succumbed to their injuries. Two other residents were seriously injured and are undergoing treatment. At the time of the incident, 15 people were present in the three-story structure.
The blaze reportedly originated on the ground floor, rapidly filling the interior with thick smoke. Occupants were asleep when the fire started, creating a chaotic situation. Those on the first and second floors managed to escape the building, but individuals on the ground floor were trapped by the dense smoke. Local residents made valiant efforts to help before fire services arrived.
Three fire engines responded to the emergency call and battled the intense flames for about 1.5 hours to bring the situation under control. The response was reportedly delayed due to the house’s location on a narrow street, which made access difficult for the fire trucks. Fire officials also pointed out that the locked main gate prevented quicker access.
The preliminary assessment suggests that a short circuit, potentially related to a room heater, may have ignited the fire. Chintamani Devi was reportedly using a heater in her room around midnight, and the fire was discovered shortly after 1 AM. Prashant Kumar, who had arrived from Patna just two weeks prior, was visiting his grandmother at the time.
While Prashant and Chintamani Devi tragically passed away, two other individuals who were on the ground floor sustained critical injuries. They are currently admitted to a private hospital for treatment. The police have secured the deceased for post-mortem and are conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.