Two children among six killed in fire at house in J&K’s Kathua

KATHUA (Jammu and Kashmir): At least six people, including two children, were killed and four others were injured after a fire broke out in a house in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district late Tuesday night, officials said.

According to officials, the incident occurred in the Shiva Nagar area of Kathua on the intervening of Tuesday and Wednesday. The deceased were identified as Advik Raina (4), Takash Raina (3), Danish Bhagat (15), Ganga Bhagat (17), Barkha Raina (25), and Avatar Krishan (81). The officials said that the injured, identified as Swarna (61), Neetu Davi (40), Arun Kumar (15) and Kewal Krishan (69), were rushed to Kathua Government Medical College and were being treated there.

Kathua GMC Principal S K Atri said that the cause of death is prima facie suffocation from the smoke. “A fire broke out in a rented house of a retired assistant matron. Out of 10 people, six were brought dead and four of them were injured. Prima facie it seems like the cause of the death is suffocation. The police are investigating the matter. Bodies will be released after the post-mortem”, he said.

#WATCH | Kathua, J&K | Six died and four injured as a fire broke out at a house in Shiva Nagar. pic.twitter.com/aLXLWcnVLH

— ANI (@ANI) December 18, 2024

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. The bodies were kept in Kathua GMC mortuary, the officials said. Visuals from the site showed household items damaged and the house covered in black ash.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh condoled the death of 6 people in the house fire incident in the Shiv Nagar area of Kathua city in Jammu and Kashmir. “Deeply shocked to learn about the accidental death of 6 members of a family resulting from fire incident in the Shiv Nagar area of Kathua city,” stated a post on X by Singh.

“My sincere condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he added. He said that he is in contact with the district administration too. (ANI)