1 dead, 3 injured in house fire

A nine-year-old girl was asphyxiated to death and three others sustained serious injuries in a major fire in Madhuram Bungalows near Sola Road on Wednesday.

Within a matter of minutes, the bungalow was engulfed in flames and the fire brigade battled for long before the fire could be brought under control. Priyanka Patel (9) suffocated to death after inhaling the fumes. Priyanka’s mother Neeta (38) was reported critical and put on ventilator by medics.

"Heavy fumes cut off fresh air supply, severely affecting the respiration of the little girl and her mother. Her father Sachin Patel (40), who owns a chemical factory, and brother Aryan (6) were lucky to survive the fumes. It took more than an hour for the fire brigade personnel to bring the fire under control and evacuate the inhabitants. The fire damaged the bungalow charring furniture and electronic equipment."

Doctors at VS Hospital, where the family was shifted after being rescued, said that Aryan was completely out of danger while Patel was being treated for respiratory injuries and his condition was stable. Later in the night the injured were shifted to the Sterling Hospital. Eye-witnesses said that the Patel family was at home when the fire broke out in their bungalow on the ground floor. Instead of trying to get out of the house, the family locked themselves in the bathroom on the first floor to save themselves from the ensuing fire that consumed their house.

This proved to be a mistake as fumes affected their respiration. Eye-witnesses said that though there was no injury marks on the bodies of the victims, their bodies were covered in soot and they were coughing and gasping for breath.

"Preliminary investigations suggested a short circuit in an air conditioner at the bungalow had started the fire that fed on combustible material inside the house," said B M Chawda, sub-inspector of Sola police station.

source;timesofindia.indiatimes.com