A devastating fire broke out on Wednesday evening at the Dairy Farm locality in Sri Vijaya Puram, South Andaman, reducing five rental homes to ashes and claiming the life of a 45-year-old woman. The incident occurred between 8:00 PM and 9:40 PM, sending shockwaves through the local community.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the fire is believed to have originated in the locked residence of one Kurma Rao. Mohammad Rafikul Molla, a labourer and resident of one of the affected homes, stated that he had just returned from work when his aunt, Mumtaz Bibi, alerted him to flames visible inside Rao’s house.
Rafikul acted swiftly, removing gas cylinders from his own home and his aunt’s to prevent a potential explosion. He also cut the main electricity line as a precaution and raised an alarm to alert other residents in the adjacent rental units. Despite initially escaping the blaze, Mumtaz Bibi reportedly re-entered her home for reasons yet unknown.
By the time fire brigade personnel and local residents managed to unlock Rao’s house and contain the blaze, the fire had intensified. Once the flames were doused around 9:40 PM, police and residents entered the charred structures. Mumtaz Bibi was found deceased inside the bathroom of her home, seated in a small water tank approximately three feet deep. Her body bore no burn injuries, indicating that she likely died due to smoke inhalation.
All five affected homes were rental units, now completely destroyed. The police have registered a case under Sections 106 and 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and the circumstances leading to the tragic death.
District authorities are expected to announce relief measures for the displaced families.
