SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 16: Two people, including a 70-year-old woman, died and one person was injured after a fire broke out at a house in Vikash Nagar under the Saraidhela police station limits late on Monday night.
The deceased were identified as the elderly mother of the house owner, Kundan Kumar, and his 18-year-old nephew, the son of his sister.
Both were asleep in the room where the fire erupted, while other family members were sleeping in another room. Kundan Kumar sustained burn injuries while attempting to rescue his mother.
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The seriously injured were rushed to Dhanbad Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH Dhanbad), where doctors declared them brought dead.
Family members said the fire broke out between 12.30 am and 1 am. On noticing smoke billowing out of the room, they raised an alarm and rushed to rescue the occupants. Local residents also joined the rescue effort, but by then the room had already been gutted by the flames.
Fire brigade personnel reached the spot and brought the blaze under control after nearly three hours of firefighting.
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Saraidhela police station in-charge Manjit Kumar said that a short circuit appears to be the cause of the fire prima facie, though a detailed investigation is underway.
Neighbours claimed that a room heater was being used for the elderly woman, which may have triggered the blaze.
