PATNA: A six-month-old baby, her maternal grandmother and maternal aunt were killed after a fire broke out at a motorcycle parts shop and an adjoining house in Bakhtiyarpur near Patna on Saturday evening.
The deceased were identified as six-month-old Sundari Kumari, 45-year-old Reema Devi and 70-year-old Geeta Devi.
Sources claimed the fire started during a havan ritual, but police said the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Barh) Abhishek Srivastava said, “A fire broke out at the shop, and we made every effort to douse it. Three people were rescued from the site and taken to hospital, where they were declared dead. Three others were safely rescued. The cause of the fire is not known at present.”
According to reports, the baby's parents, Moni Kumari and Shivam Kumar, who had come to Bakhtiyarpur from Hisua in Nawada district, escaped by jumping from the roof. Moni Kumari suffered a fractured leg and was admitted to hospital for treatment.
Police and fire brigade teams rushed to the spot after receiving information. Firefighters brought the blaze under control after a prolonged operation.