Five people, including three children, have so far died after a fire broke out at a Durga Puja pandal in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadoi district, police said on Monday.
The fire broke out on Sunday in Aurai town at the pandal during the Aarti session to mark the Saptami, or the seventh day of Navratri festivities. The Bhadohi DM, Gaurang Rathi, said today, “The death toll in the Bhadohi Durga Puja pandal fire incident has risen to five. Three children and two women have died.”
Of the five deceased, three people-one Jai Devi and her two grandchildren-belonged to the same family, which has left the family in a state of shock.
Jai Devi’s husband said, “Along with my wife, three of her daughters-in-law and two grandchildren had gone to the pandal. While the woman and one of the children died in hospital, one more child died this morning at home”.
The Bhadohi DM informed that a case has been registered against the President of the Durga Puja organisation committee of the pandal where the fire broke out.
The case has been registered against Baccha Yadav on charges of carelessness in maintaining the security system at the event. Other than him, cases have also been registered against other members of the organisation committee.
The DM of Bhadohi also informed that the SIT team has submitted its report. The reason for the fire has been found to be the heating of halogen. The SIT report also said that there was carelessness regarding the setting up of the electricity system in the pandal. Also, the material that was used in the construction of the pandal was flammable in nature.
Anil Kumar, the SP of Bhadohi, informed us on Monday that a case has been registered against Bacchja Yadav and other committee members because of carelessness in security at the event.
