A fire broke out in a house in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district on Wednesday morning, leading to the deaths of six people, including a former deputy superintendent of police and his three-year-old grandson, as reported by PTI. Four others were injured and are receiving treatment at a hospital.
Local locals noticed the fire around 2:30 am2:30 am and attempted to rescue the occupants. However, thick smoke had already filled the house, suffocating those inside while they slept. The victims were taken to Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital in Kathua, where six, including two minors, were declared dead upon arrival.
The deceased has been identified as 81-year-old former DSP Avtar Krishen Raina, his daughter Barkha Raina, son Takashi, Ganga Bhagat, 15-year-old Danish Bhagat, and 6-year-old Advik, according to police. Those injured include 61-year-old Swarna (wife of Avtar Krishen Raina), 40-year-old Neetu Devi, 15-year-old Arun Kumar, and a 69-year-old woman.
The family lived in a rented house at the time of the incident. Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed his condolences and mentioned he was in touch with the local administration regarding the tragedy. He wrote on X, “Deeply shocked to learn about the accidental death of 6 members of a family resulting from a fire incident in the Shiv Nagar area of Kathua city.”
Preliminary investigations by Dr. Surinder Atri, the principal of the hospital, suggest that the victims died from smoke inhalation and suffocation, as no burn injuries were reported. The doctor further stated, “It is an unfortunate incident. Our assistant matron, who had recently retired, lived in the rented house. The incident happened between 2 am2 am and 3 am. She called over the phone, and I immediately informed the police and fire brigade.”
A local student, Rocky Sharma, recalled noticing the fire while studying late at night and rushing to the house with others. “The fire had engulfed the drawing room, and the smoke that seeped into other rooms resulted in the deaths,” he said.
The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.