Ramban, Feb, 12: Three sisters were charred to death in Tanjnihal village of Ramsu subdivision of Ramban district on Sunday night.
Locals said that all the family members were in deep sleep when the fire broke out. They said that the fire tenders could not reach the spot in the absence of road connectivity to the area.
Locals said that the fire broke out from the upper floor of a triple-storey house of Abdul Latif Lone in village Tajnihal, Dhanmasta of Ukhral tehsil in Ramsu block resulting in three teenage sisters sleeping in a room of upper storey of the house burnt alive.
They said the matter came to light when the mother of the deceased siblings who was sleeping with other family members on the ground floor of the house stepped out of the house and saw flames emitting from the upper storey of the house.
Locals said that she started shouting after that and other family members sleeping in the house woke up and ran out of the house to save their lives.
After hearing their hues and cries, locals and people from nearby villages also reached the spot and tried their best to save the lives of the children sleeping in the upper storey of the house.
They said that till then the upper storey where the three teenage sisters were sleeping was completely engulfed by fire.
Locals said that the fire tenders could not reach the spot due to a lack of road connectivity to the area.
On Monday morning, Police and Fire and Emergency Services officers and personnel reached the spot and retrieved the three charred bodies.
Police identified the deceased sisters as Bisma Banoo, 17, Saika Banoo, 15, and Sania Banoo, 9, daughters of Abdul Latief.
Latief also suffered burn injuries.
After the doctors and the Police completed the legal formalities, they handed over the charred bodies to the family for last rites.
Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Services Ramban, Sahil Bandral said that on getting information regarding the fire incident in Tajnihal two fire tenders from Ramban and Banihal fire stations were dispatched but the fire tenders could not reach the spot due to the absence of road connectivity to the area.
He said that the house was 1.5 km from the nearest road where the fire tenders could reach.
The cause of the fire is yet not known.
However, the Police said that it had started an investigation to find out the reason for the fire.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ramban, Anuj Kumar told Greater Kashmir that an FSL team was sent to the Tanjnijal village to collect samples where three sisters were charred to death.
He ruled out any foul play in the blaze.
Kumar said Police had started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of the fire.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ramban, Baseer-ul-Haq Chaudhary posted on X, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of three minor sisters in a fire incident in Ramsoo. Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones affected by this devastating event. In this time of immense sorrow, we stand with the grieved family and will be providing full support and also compensation as per SDRF norms. Immediate relief of Rs 3 lakh will be extended under the Red Cross.”
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Ramban, Harbans Lal Sharma along with other district officials visited Tajnihal, met the victim’s family, and assured all possible help from the district administration.
District Development Council (DDC) Ramban Chairperson Shamshada Shan also assured the affected families of help and assistance from the administration.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the incident.
In a post on X, he wrote that the fire incident in Ramsu, Ramban was unfortunate. Meanwhile, a large number of people took part in the Nimaz-e-Jinaza of the deceased at Tajnihal.