Guwahati, 24 July (HS): A heart-wrenching incident occurred early Thursday morning at Barua Bhawan in Lane No. 4 of Kamakhya Nagar, Pandu area in Guwahati. Dense black smoke was seen coming out of room number 5/E, causing panic among locals. Morning walkers noticed the smoke and alerted the house owner, Subrata Chakraborty. After repeated calls, Chakraborty came out and informed that smoke had engulfed the room of his wife and daughter.

With the help of neighbors, Subrata rushed his wife Deeptishikha Chakraborty and daughter Sharmistha Chakraborty to Maligaon Railway Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Their bodies were later sent to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for postmortem.

Initial police investigation suggests it was a tragic accident. Electrical appliances in the room such as lights, fan and AC were functioning properly, ruling out the possibility of a short circuit. A cigarette packet and a mobile charger were found in the room. Authorities suspect that a lit cigarette might have caused a fire, leading to toxic smoke inhalation.

However, Subrata Chakraborty claimed that the fire might have started from an incense stick. A CID team and forensic experts have visited the site and are conducting a thorough investigation.

Meanwhile, locals expressed anger over the delayed arrival of the 108 medical van and the fire brigade. The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over the entire area.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash