Massive fire at cloth trader house in Meerut, 6 burnt alive including woman and 5 children

Meerut (The Uttam Hindu): A devastating fire broke out late Monday night in a three-storey house belonging to a cloth trader in the Lisadi Gate police station area of Kidwai Nagar Islamabad. Six members of the same family, including five children and a woman, lost their lives after being trapped in flames and smoke. Two others sustained serious burn injuries. Initial investigation suggests that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit.

The house, located in Gali No. 3, belongs to Iqbal Ahmed. A powerloom unit named ‘I Sons Embroidery’ operates on the first floor, while the family resides on the second floor. At the time of the incident, Iqbal Ahmed and his two sons, Asim and Farooq, had gone to a mosque to offer Taraweeh prayers.

At home were Iqbal’s wife Ameer Bano; Asim’s wife Rukhsar; their three-year-old son Aqdus; six-month-old twin daughters Nabiya and Inayat; and Farooq’s daughter Mahvish and son Hammad. Around 9:30 p.m., a sudden fire broke out. The flames spread rapidly, filling the entire building with thick smoke.

Hearing screams, local residents rushed to the spot and informed the police and fire department. Due to narrow lanes and dense habitation, fire tenders could not reach the exact location. Residents entered the house through rooftops, rescued the injured, and tried to control the fire at their own level.

The injured were immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared five children and Rukhsar dead. Ameer Bano and a युवक named Shahzad are undergoing treatment, and their condition is reported to be critical.

On receiving information, District Magistrate V. K. Singh, SSP Avinash Pandey, DIG Kalanidhi Naithani and SP City Ayush Vikram Singh reached the spot. Officials stated that prima facie the fire appears to have been caused by a short circuit. Rescue operations faced major challenges due to congested lanes. Police have begun an investigation into the tragic incident.