Patna: Three people, including a five-month-old baby girl, died after a massive fire broke out at an engine oil shop in Bakhtiyarpur’s Old Bypass area late Saturday evening.
Locals rescued the victims and took them to a hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
The deceased have been identified as Geeta Devi, 50, mother of shopkeeper Pankaj; his wife, Reema Devi, 30; and his five-month-old niece.
Fire breaks out during religious gathering
According to eyewitnesses, a Shiv-Charcha gathering was being held at Pankaj’s house when a havan performed during the event allegedly triggered the fire.
Locals said the shop dealt in engine oil, with stocks of the oil also stored at the premises. The presence of the combustible material caused the fire to spread rapidly, trapping four family members inside the house.
One woman was rescued, while three others remained trapped.
Woman jumps from roof, returns to save daughter
Eyewitnesses said Pankaj’s sister jumped from the roof after the fire broke out to escape the flames. However, after realising that her daughter was still inside, she reportedly returned to the house in an attempt to rescue her.
She was caught in the flames again but was eventually rescued alive.
Pankaj’s mother, wife and five-month-old niece could not be saved and died from burn injuries.
Fire brought under control after two hours
A fire brigade team and Bakhtiyarpur police reached the scene after being alerted. Barh-2 SDPO Ayush Srivastava also arrived at the site.
Police and fire personnel launched rescue operations and brought the blaze under control after about two hours.
Srivastava said the fire broke out at the engine oil shop following a religious ritual at the house and that four people had been trapped inside.
“The rescue team managed to bring one woman out safely. However, three people died from burn injuries,” he said.
The bodies were sent to the hospital by ambulance, while the fire brigade brought the fire under control, the SDPO said.
