In a tragic incident, a couple and their four minor children were burnt to death on the early hours of Thursday after a cylinder caught fire in a hut in southwest Delhi’s Bijwasan area.

The deceased persons were identified as Kamlesh (37), his wife Budhani (32), their two daughters, 16 and 12 years old, and two sons, six years and 3 months old.

According to Atul Garg, the Director of Delhi Fire Service (DFS), the fire department received a call regarding a fire in a transformer at Balmiki Colony around 12.30 AM, following which four fire tenders were rushed to the spot. “The fire was in a transformer and later spread into two huts,” he added.

“Police received a police control room (PCR) call regarding blaze at Balmiki Colony near flyover where a cylinder caught fire and people were trapped inside. Another call was received where it was mentioned that at the backside of Palam Vihar K-Block, Brijwasan, there was a fire in a cylinder factory following which police teams were dispatched for the spot,” said a senior police official. 

“At Bijwasan near the railway line, there were two to three huts in a field. Due to the fire and cylinder blast, labourer Kamlesh, his wife Budhani and their four children, two daughter and two sons, died,” said the senior police official.

“The blaze was doused. The fire officials and police personnel took out the bodies and shifted to Safdarjung Hospital. In another hut, there were five persons who are safe,” said the police.

“A case under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered and further investigation is going on,” police added.