6 of family charred to death in Bihar’s Darbhanga; officials say kin to get financial aid

DARBHANGA (Bihar): Six members of a family were charred to death in the April 25 fire in Darbhanga in Bihar. District authorities have said that the family of the victims will receive all help and a detailed investigation will follow up to avoid such incidents in future.

As per the information, firecrackers used at a wedding in Antor village led to the fire at the residence of Ramchandra Paswan where arrangements for food and lodging were made. Six members of the family including his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren died in the blaze.

District Magistrate Rajiv Raushan said, “A sad incident took place in Antor village of Alinagar block of Darbhanga. Six people from the same family died. Three of the deceased are children. We have come together with the SP in DMCH (Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital). The postmortem procedure is being done. Under the Bihar government’s Disaster Management Authority, the victim’s family will be given all help”.

Raushan also said that instructions had been issued to give Rs 6 lakh for each death as ex-gratia to bereaved family members as financial assistance. Additionally, Rs 11,000 each had already been paid to the affected family. He further said, “We have also formed a team so that this kind of incident doesn’t happen again. A detailed investigation will follow up to avoid such incidents in future”.

Ramchandra Paswan, head of the family, said that nothing could be saved in the fire. He said, “Approximately 7 quintals of wheat was burned. There were five sacks of lentils. Two cows and one motorcycle were also engulfed in the fire. Some cash amounting to Rs 2 lakh cash and papers and documents related to land also were burned”.

INDIA Alliance candidate from Darbhanga, Lalit Yadav, expressing his grief said, “It’s a very sad incident… Six members of the same family died… There cannot be any big loss in the Darbhanga district or even in the state of Bihar… We are together with them in this period and I pray to God to give them strength”.

Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took to his official X handle and tweeted, “It is sad that six people died in a fire incident during a wedding procession in Antor village of Alinagar block of Darbhanga. I have instructed for proper treatment of the injured and I wish them a speedy recovery. I pray to God to give strength to the bereaved family to bear the pain in this hour of grief”. (ANI)