Elderly man, daughter die in Lohri night fire incident in Amritsar

A tragic fire incident claimed the lives of an elderly man and his differently-abled daughter late on Tuesday at Chuhar Gali near Paragdas Chowk, under the jurisdiction of B division police station here.

The victims have been identified as Khajan Singh (85) and his differently-abled daughter Navdeep Kaur (32), who reportedly died due to asphyxia caused by heavy smoke. The fire broke out suddenly on Lohri night, triggering panic among family members and residents of the densely populated area. Cries for help echoed through the narrow lane as the blaze spread rapidly through the four-storey building.

According to eyewitnesses, other family members managed to escape to the rooftop amid the chaos and were later rescued by neighbours. In a desperate attempt to save those trapped inside, residents poured water from overhead tanks on adjacent rooftops. However, their efforts proved unsuccessful in rescuing the two victims, who were unable to move due to age and physical disability.

Local residents informed the Fire Department after hearing the screams. As many as seven fire engines pressed into service. However, the narrow and congested lanes of the locality severely hampered the fire-fighting and rescue operations, delaying immediate access to the affected building.

People present at the scene said the family was engaged in selling ‘rumale sahib’ (religious cloth coverings). A large stock of these cloth items was stored in the basement of the building, while the family resided on the first floor. It was also reported that a Lohri bonfire had been lit on the rooftop earlier in the night. Preliminary information suggests that sparks from the bonfire may have caused the fire, though no conclusive evidence has been established so far.

Police officials said the bodies were sent for a post-mortem examination and later handed over to the family.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the area, with residents mourning the loss and raising concerns over fire safety in congested residential localities.