Bettiah: A seven-year-old boy died in a house fire caused by an electrical short circuit in Bihar’s Bettiah district, officials said on Friday. The fire broke out late on Thursday night in Dhobni village, which falls under the Saathi police station area.
The child, identified as Ayan Dewan, was sleeping inside the house along with his siblings when the blaze started. Family members said the fire spread quickly, filling the house with smoke and flames. Neighbours who noticed the fire rushed to the scene and raised an alarm.
Villagers broke open the door and managed to rescue two children from the burning house. Ayan, however, was asleep wrapped in a blanket and became trapped in the flames. Despite efforts to save him, he died at the spot.
The boy’s father, Ashraf Ali, said he and his wife were at a nearby house caring for elderly relatives when the fire broke out. Fire brigade teams and local police arrived after being alerted, and the blaze was brought under control with the help of villagers. By that time, the house had been completely destroyed.
Police said the child’s body was sent to Government Medical College and Hospital in Bettiah for a post-mortem examination, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. The family has been left without permanent shelter, with temporary arrangements made locally.
Local residents and representatives have urged the government to provide financial assistance, disaster relief compensation and support to help the family rebuild their home and recover from the tragedy.
