RAUTAHAT, NOVEMBER 24
Three children were burnt to death after a fire spread from a clothing shop at Maisthan Chowk of Gaur Municipality in Rautahat last night. Property worth millions was destroyed in the blaze.
The fire spread in the clothing store at 11:30pm while the kids were asleep. The deceased have been identified as Ruksana Khatun, 9, Sabina Khatun, 5, and Imran Mansuri, 7, of the municipality. Police said they could not save the children due to the blaze. Police said the kids' uncle Mohammad Ishrial Mansuri, 26, eight-year old Mohhmad Imrain and Nasima Khatun, 24, who were asleep with the kids were injured in the incident.
They were injured critically while escaping from the scene. Police said they are receiving treatment in Provincial Hospital, Gaur.
The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained. It became even more dangerous after the fire spread to a motorcycle garage and destroyed it, said police.
Locals informed the police after more than 15 bikes started burning. Locals, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepali Army, and fire engines from Gaur Municipality and Simraungadh municipalities brought the fire under control after three hours. Property worth Rs forty lakh was destroyed in the blaze.
The bodies of the children have been kept in the provincial hospital. Of the injured, one was sent to Kirtipur Hospital for further treatment.
Meanwhile, issuing a statement, newly elected member of House of Representatives from Rautahat-1, CPN-US Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal said the incident was painful and he was with the bereaved family. He directed Gaur Municipality Mayor Shambhu Shah to help the family and others.
The statement reads that the district disaster management committee has to help the victims with relief. Shah reached the site and said the municipality has provided expenses for medicine and treatment of the injured. He added that clothes, food materials, among others, were provided to the victims.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 25, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
