Punjab: Five family members killed in Jalandhar house fire

Jalandhar (Punjab) [India], October 9 : A devastating fire incident in Avtar Nagar, Gali No. 12, Jalandhar, has resulted in the loss of five lives, all members of the Ghai family.
The incident occurred on Sunday night and is believed to have been caused by a gas cylinder leak within the house.
Around 9:30 at night, as residents of the house went to the terrace after their evening meal, they noticed smoke billowing from within their home.
Investigating Officer Hardev Singh provided further insights into the tragedy, explaining that the fire's origin could be traced back to a refrigerator explosion.
Singh said, "The blast has happened in the fridge. As a result, gases were produced and caught fire. The gases were inhaled by the people. Five people have died."

The blast resulted in the release of gases, which subsequently ignited, causing the fire. Tragically, the inhaling of these gases proved fatal for the five family members.
Quick-thinking bystanders promptly alerted both the local police and the fire department. Despite the swift response, the blaze had already claimed five lives.
The victims have been identified as Yashpal Singh, his daughter-in-law Ruchi, granddaughter Diya, as well as Mansha and grandson Akshay.
According to Akshay Kumar, a resident of Avtar Nagar, the incident occurred due to a gas leak from a cylinder stored in the kitchen of the family home.
He recounted that the residents were unaware of the fire until they noticed the smoke emanating from their house. It was only then that the authorities were alerted to the dire situation.
The incident has cast a pall of grief over the Avtar Nagar neighbourhood and serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures when handling gas cylinders and appliances.