Short Circuit Suspected as Fire Kills Two, Injures Six in Dhanbad

Dhanbad: A massive fire in a three-storey residential building in Vikas Nagar, under the Saraidhela police station area of Dhanbad district, claimed two lives and left six others injured late Monday night, officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The victims have been identified as Prashant Kumar (22) and his grandmother Chintamani Devi (70). Prashant had been staying at the house for the past 15 days after arriving from Patna.

Officials said 15 people were present in the building when the fire broke out around midnight. Eight people were sleeping on the ground floor, while the remaining occupants were on the first and second floors. The fire originated on the ground floor and rapidly spread smoke throughout the building.

While occupants on the upper floors managed to escape, those on the ground floor were trapped amid dense smoke. Local residents rushed to help, but heavy smoke obstructed rescue efforts. The fire department was later alerted.

Three fire engines were deployed and the blaze was brought under control after nearly 90 minutes. Fire department in-charge Deepak Oraon said narrow access roads delayed firefighting operations, adding that a locked main gate further complicated the rescue.

Initial investigation suggests the fire may have been caused by a short circuit, possibly linked to a heater that was switched on before bedtime. The fire was noticed around 1 a.m.

Six injured persons, including two in critical condition, are undergoing treatment at a private hospital. Police have taken custody of the bodies for post-mortem examination. Further probe is ongoing.

With inputs from IANS