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Four members of a family, including two teenage boys, were killed in a fire that broke out in a shop in the Pimpri Chinchwad early Wednesday. Firefighters suspect the blaze started due to an electric short-circuit inside the hardware and electrical shop in the Shahu Nagar area of Chinchwad.
The deceased have been identified as Chimnaram Benaram Chaudhari, 48, his wife Namrata, 40, and their two sons Bhavesh, 15, and Sachin, 13. The family hailed from Pali in Rajasthan and ran a hardware store called Sachin Hardware and Electricals in Shahunagar.
According to Pimpri Chinchwad fire brigade officials, they received a call from local residents about the fire at their control room around 5.25 am.
“Fire tenders from the Chikhli fire station were deployed in response. The fire was brought under control within 45 minutes after the tenders reached the spot. Subsequently, a cooling operation was launched in which water was sprayed across the gutted area to avert any secondary fires,” said a firefighter who was part of the teams that responded to the call.
“One of the deceased was found lying next to the shutter and three people were found on the annexe constructed inside the shop,” added the firefighter.
Pimpri Chinchwad fire brigade officer Rushikant Chipade said, “Initial observations show that the four people were living in a makeshift annexe constructed inside the shop. The fire is suspected to have started due to an electric short circuit.”
Sub-inspector Sanjay Baravkar from Chikhali police station said, “Initial observations suggest that the four persons died due to suffocation, inhalation of smoke and also burns. The autopsy is being conducted which will conclusively give us the cause of death”.
“We have launched a probe into the ownership details of the shop and will also be probing possible negligence on any person’s part leading to the fire and deaths,” added Baravkar.
