Fire ignited by Diwali firecrackers kills 3 children in Bengal

Kolkata: Firecrackers sparked a blaze and killed three children in West Bengal's Howrah on Friday evening. It was only Thursday night, and a couple and their made were burned to death in Kanpur by a fire ignited by a diya.

The incident took place in Uluberia when the children of the same locality were bursting firecrackers as sparks fell on some fireworks stored nearby, triggering a blaze that engulfed an adjacent house and the three children, PTI reported.

The children were taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead, he said.

Two fire tenders were deployed at the spot and succeeded in containing the blaze, a fire brigade official said.

West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose said, "Three fatalities have been confirmed in the blaze. It is a tragic incident. I will visit the area."

In Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, the deceased were identified as Sanjay Shyam Dasani (48), his wife Kanika Dasani (42), and their maid, Chhabi Chauhan (24).

According to Free Press Journal, the Dasani family is well-known for their food business, Ambaji Foods. They lived in a three-story house in Pandu Nagar here.

It is learned that the presence of extensive wooden interiors fuelled the fire, and an automatic door, which shut due to the heat from the fire, trapped the victims inside the house.

They had performed a traditional puja before dinner on Diwali night and went to bed, leaving a diya burning in the prayer area.

The Dasanis' son, Harsh Dasani, was out celebrating Diwali with his friends during the mishap.