In brief
Police confirmed 18 deaths in three separate fires that erupted in households and a family shop during Diwali. While Xinhua reported six fatalities in each incident, a Facebook post claimed 12 deaths in two incidents in Madhya Pradesh. Additional reports note dozens of severe burn injuries nationwide.
At least 18 people lost their lives in three separate fire incidents across India as families celebrated Diwali, local police said on Monday. The events occurred overnight, with each incident taking place in a different region of the country.
Incidents
In Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh, a massive blaze erupted inside a three‑story house. Six members of one family were killed and four others were injured, the police said. Emergency responders evacuated the wounded to a local hospital for treatment.
The second fire, reported in Katni district of the same state, broke out at a crockery shop located within a multi‑story building. Six members of the same family were also killed. A local cop noted that the cause of the fire remains unknown.
In Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, firefighters reported that a fire spread through a house where a family was asleep, resulting in the death of six members by asphyxiation. The incident took place in the night of the Diwali festival, which fell on Sunday.
Across the incidents, injuries were reported but the exact number varies. In Seoni, four people were injured and admitted to local medical facilities. Other reports outside the three districts indicated additional severe burn injuries, though specific figures were not provided in the initial police statements.
Reports and Discrepancies
While Xinhua’s report detailed 18 deaths spread evenly across the three incidents, a Facebook post by a user affiliated with IndiaTV claimed that 12 people were killed in two separate fire incidents in Madhya Pradesh alone. The post also mentioned that a two‑month‑old child was among the victims, though the post's visibility was later restricted.
In another development, an Indian Express update noted that at least 35 people sustained severe burn injuries in separate firecracker‑related incidents across Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh during the same Diwali celebrations. This report highlights the broader impact of fire‑related incidents nationwide, although it does not directly refer to the three incidents mentioned by Xinhua.
Police and local officials continue to investigate the causes of all three fires. The lack of a definitive cause has left families and communities in mourning, as the incidents underscore the urgency of improved fire safety measures during large gatherings and celebrations across India.