2 families, 2 fires, 12 deaths: Madhya Pradesh witnesses twin fire tragedies

In separate fire incidents during Diwali, at least 12 family members lost their lives in Madhya Pradesh.BHOPAL: At least 12 members of two families were killed in separate fire incidents in Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni and Katni districts a day after Diwali celebrations.In Seoni district, six members of a family were killed and four others injured after a massive fire broke out at a three-storey house belonging to a goldsmith in Chhapara town early Monday.The blaze erupted between 4am and 4.30am at the residence of Kundan Lal Soni, near a Jain temple in Mahavir Ward.10 people were present in the house when the fire broke out. Six of them died, while four were rescued, sub-divisional officer of police Apoorva Bhalavi told PTI.The deceased have been identified as Soni, 75, his wife Rajkumari, 65, Ritu, 42, Smriti, 40, Surya, 45, and Aditya, 16.The cause of the fire was not immediately known, officials said.In a separate incident in Katni district, six members of another family, including a two-month-old infant, died after a fire broke out at a crockery shop in a three-storey building in Barhi town around midnight, PTI reported.The deceased have been identified as Puran Agarwal, 77, who ran the shop, his wife Chandrakala, 74, daughter-in-law Poonam, granddaughters Arya, 14, and Anvi, 6, and a two-month-old infant.The fire quickly spread through the building, trapping family members inside. The infant died in his mother Poonam's arms, eyewitnesses said.The incident brought tears to the eyes of those present and spread grief across the town.The cause of the fire was not immediately clear.(With agency inputs)