Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 28: A couple and their six-year-old daughter were charred alive after their house caught fire. The incident happened in the early hours on Wednesday December 27 at Udayanagara, Mahadevapura in the city. The deceased have been identified as Santosh alias Murugan (35), Sophia (30) and Flora (6).

As there was unscheduled load shedding in their area, the couple had lit up mosquito coil and  candles to ward off mosquitoes. It is thought that a spark from either of these thngs must have fallen on the pillow and started the fire. Soon, other things inside the house also caught fire. The couple which was in deep sleep, were choked by thick smoke which filled their home. Although they woke thereafter and tried their best, they could not come out of their house and were burnt alive. The police, who rushed to the spot after being alerted by neighbours about smoke emanating from the said house,  found Flora alive with 80 percent burns. They rushed her to the government hospital at K R Puram but the girl died before medical assistance could be extended.  

Santosh used to attend to cable work near Kaveri Street in Udayanagara. The couple stayed in their own house with daughter and Santosh's parents. Parents of Santosh were away visiting their daughter at Pune for Christmas when the tragedy happened.