Bhadohi, 7 Oct: The death toll from a fire at a Durga Puja Pandal here rose to nine on Friday, with two more women succumbing to burn injuries during treatment, according to authorities.
“Seema Bind (35) and Manju Devi (25) who were injured in the fire incident died on Friday at the hospital,” stated District Magistrate (DM) Gaurang Rathi. A fire broke out Sunday night in a Durga Puja pandal in Nathua village here, killing seven people, after a halogen light overheated, causing an electric line to catch fire.
Ankush Soni (12), Jaya Devi (45), Naveen (10), Arti Devi (48), Harshwardhan (8), Shivpujan (70), and Ram Murat (65) were among those killed.
At least 80 other injured people are currently being treated in hospitals in Bhadohi and surrounding districts. The incident happened during a digital show inside the pandal. When the fire broke out, there were more than 300 individuals in the pandal, the vast majority of them were women and children.
An FIR for carelessness was filed at Aurai Police Station against members of the puja samiti.
The FIR was filed under Indian Penal Code sections 304A (causing death by carelessness), 337 (endangering human life owing to negligence), and 326 (voluntarily causing severe harm by hazardous weapons or methods) and Section 135 of the Electricity Act (supply and use of energy by non-licensees and others).
