Meerut, Feb 24 (UNI) A devastating fire claimed the lives of six members of a garment trader’s family, including five children, in Meerut on Monday evening.
The tragic incident occurred in Gali No. 1 near Surahi Wali Masjid in Kidwai Nagar under the Lisadi Gate police station limits. According to police, the fire broke out in a two-storey house while the trader, Iqbal alias Asim, had gone to offer prayers at a nearby mosque along with his brother Farukh.
At the time of the incident, seven family members — two women and five children — were inside the house. The victims have been identified as Iqbal’s wife Rukhsar (30) and their twin six-month-old daughters, Nabia and Inayat. Farukh’s children, Mahvish (12) and Hammad (4), and another child, Addas (3), also lost their lives in the blaze. Iqbal’s mother, Ameer Bano (55), and a neighbor sustained serious burn injuries and are currently undergoing treatment.
According to eyewitnesses, children were playing while the women were cooking when the fire suddenly broke out. Residents noticed thick smoke billowing from the house and immediately alerted the police and fire department.
Due to the narrow lanes in the locality, fire tenders faced difficulty accessing the site. Firefighters had to reach the house through a neighboring rooftop and used ladders from an adjacent building to rescue those trapped inside.
Family members remained trapped in the flames for nearly 30 minutes. The fire brigade battled the blaze for around two hours before bringing it under control. All victims were rushed to a local hospital, where Rukhsar and the five children were declared dead on arrival.
City Superintendent of Police Ayush Vikram Singh said preliminary investigations suggest a short circuit may have caused the fire. However, local residents suspect that a gas leak could have triggered the blaze. Officials confirmed that a large quantity of garments was stored inside the house, which may have intensified the fire.
Senior district officials, including the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of Police, and other police officers, visited the hospital following the incident. Local MLA Gulam Mohammed and other political representatives also met the grieving family.
Chief Fire Officer Surendra Singh stated that the fire has been extinguished and the exact cause is under investigation. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, and the injured are receiving medical treatment.
Six of garment trader’s family, including five children, killed in devastating house fire in Meerut
