A devastating fire, triggered by suspected cylinder explosions, ripped through a residential flat in Muzaffarnagar on Monday evening, leading to the tragic deaths of three members of a family. The incident has sent shockwaves through the Vasundhara Residency locality.
Tragedy Strikes in Vasundhara Colony
The fire broke out at around 5:30 pm on Monday in a second-floor apartment located in Phase-3 of Vasundhara Residency, which falls under the New Mandi Kotwali police jurisdiction. The blaze resulted in the deaths of Amit Gaur (50), a kanungo or revenue clerk, his mother Sushila Devi (68), and his younger brother Nitin Gaur (45). The family, originally from Shamli, was living in the colony on a rental basis.
Rapid Blaze and Powerful Explosions
Eyewitness accounts describe a sudden outbreak of fire that was followed by multiple, loud explosions within moments. The bursting of cylinders accelerated the spread of flames with terrifying speed, trapping the family inside and cutting off any potential escape route. The force of the blasts was so intense that it shattered glass windows, sending panes crashing onto the road below and causing widespread panic among residents.
Local residents rushed out of their homes in fear as chaos gripped the area. One brave local who attempted to fight the fire sustained burn injuries. CCTV footage from the vicinity later surfaced, capturing the frightening intensity of the inferno and the subsequent explosions.
Emergency Response and Official Statements
Upon receiving alerts, police officials and fire brigade teams rushed to the scene. Firefighters battled the flames for approximately 30 minutes before bringing the blaze under control and recovering the three bodies from the charred apartment.
Muzaffarnagar (City) SP Satyanarayan Prajapati confirmed the sequence of events, stating that the control room was informed about the second-floor fire. He noted that administrative and fire teams responded immediately. The injured person was hurt during the firefighting efforts.
Initial investigations by the police point to a possible cause. An angithi (brazier) was reportedly lit inside the flat at the time of the incident. Authorities suspect the fire may have started from this brazier, which then ignited the cylinder explosions. However, officials have emphasized that the exact cause will be confirmed only after a detailed forensic investigation. The police are currently gathering statements from family members and neighbours as part of their ongoing inquiry.
