A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in Lucknow's Indiranagar area late Friday night, claiming the life of a four-year-old girl in a devastating fire. The incident, which came to light on Saturday morning, has left the local community in Duda colony, Sugamau Hanumantpuram, in a state of profound grief.
The Fateful Night and a Sister's Escape
The victim, identified as Avika, was asleep in her room with her six-year-old sister, Pankhuri. Their parents were out buying vegetables at the time of the incident, leaving the young siblings alone. According to police sources, the fire originated from an earthen lamp (diya) that was kept lit in a small temple inside the room. The flames from the diya are believed to have caught a nearby curtain, leading to a rapid spread of the blaze throughout the premises.
In a twist of fate, the elder sister, Pankhuri, managed to wake up to the danger and flee the burning room in time. However, little Avika was tragically trapped by the intensifying flames. Pankhuri's frantic screams for help pierced the night, alerting neighbours who immediately rushed to the spot.
Frantic Rescue Efforts Thwarted by Blaze
Driven by urgency, the neighbours launched desperate efforts to douse the fire and rescue the trapped toddler. Thick, choking smoke and the sheer intensity of the fire, however, created an impenetrable barrier, severely hindering their attempts. It became impossible to locate Avika immediately in the inferno.
After a strenuous and harrowing struggle, the local residents finally managed to pull the four-year-old out from the debris. In a race against time, she was first rushed to a nearby private clinic for emergency aid. Given the critical nature of her burns, she was subsequently referred to the major Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for advanced treatment.
A Community Mourns a Preventable Loss
Tragically, all efforts to save her life proved futile. Doctors at the hospital declared Avika dead on arrival, delivering the final blow to any hopes of survival. The incident has cast a pall of sorrow over the Duda colony, raising serious questions about fire safety precautions within homes, especially concerning religious practices involving open flames.
This devastating event serves as a grim reminder of how quickly a moment of tradition can turn into catastrophe. It underscores the critical need for vigilance when using diyas or any open flame indoors, ensuring they are placed away from flammable materials like curtains, clothes, or wooden furniture and are never left unattended.
