Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, January 31
Fourteen people died and 18 received burn injuries in a devastating fire in Aashirwad apartments at Jorapokhar area of Dhanbad on late Tuesday night.
According to Dhanbad deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh,14 deaths include 10 women, two minor girls and two children. The injured have been admitted in Sadar Hospital and Patliputra Medical College Hospital.
They were members of Baarat party to attend the marriage of daughter of Subodh Srivastva on the second floor of the apartments. Women members were getting ready to join the reception of the baraat that had come from Koderma. A burning earthen lamp fell on the floor covered with woollen carpet and caught fire. With seconds, it spread in second floor and later spread to the third floor of the apartment located in heart of the town.
Officer in charge of Bank More police station who was supervising the rescue operations also sustained burns and was rushed to the hospital. Ashok Kumar who had come from Hazaribag to attend wedding said all the five members including two years old Tannu died in the fire.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he was personally monitoring rescue operations and medical care to the injured.
