Daijiworld Media Network - Howrah

Howrah, Dec 22: Four members of a family were charred to death after a fire broke out at their house in West Bengal’s Howrah district around midnight, officials said on Monday.

The incident occurred at Sauria village under the Joypur police station limits. The deceased were identified as Durjodhan Dolui (72), his son Dudhkumar Dolui (45), daughter-in-law Shibani Dolui (40), and granddaughter Shampa Dolui (15).

Officials said the victims were asleep when the fire engulfed their kuchcha house. Two fire tenders were pressed into service and managed to douse the blaze, but the family could not be rescued in time.

The bodies have been sent to a government hospital in Uluberia for post-mortem examination. Police have registered a case and an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Officials said the family was economically poor. Dudhkumar is survived by a son who works as a migrant labourer outside the state.