Two children burnt alive in HP

Shimla, Jun 6 (UNI) Two infants were burnt alive and their mother suffered serious burn injuries in a devastating fire that gutted 50 jhuggies in Baddi area of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh early today.

Nalagarh SDM Manmohan Sharma told UNI here, that the fire, which began at 1045 hrs, soon engulfed 50 jhuggies on a private land in Sayanj Majra village, about 152 km from here, in the district.

He said two infants, who were yet to be identified, were burnt alive in the fire, while their mother, identified as Maya, suffered serious burn injuries in the incident.

The fire, which spread fast due to the polythene sheets, raised to ground the jhuggies of the labourers and their personal belongings in no time, he said.

Mr Sharma said he along with other senior officials and a medical team visited the fire site to supervise relief and rescue operations.

The injured have been admitted to a government hospital at Nalagarh where the doctors described the condition of the woman critical, he said.

He said the authorities have announced an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 each to the families who lost their children and Rs 1,000 each to the families whose belongings were burnt in the fire.

The authorities were trying to shelter these people in local schools and other buildings before shifting them in a suitable building, the SDM said.

Mr Sharma said Nalagarh Beopar Mandal has decided to hold community foods for these people for the next six to seven days to help them tide over the crises.

The cause of the fire was being ascertained and investigations are on, he said, while ruling out nay foul play in the incident.

UNI