5 burnt alive as fire breaks out in Hotel Pal Heights owner’s house in city

Bhubaneswar: Five persons were charred to death in a massive fire that broke out in Hotel Pal Heights owner Satpal Singh’s house at Buddheswari Colony near Laxmisagar in the city on Thursday morning.
Though Singh and his family members were initially rescued by fire personnel, five of them succumbed on the way to hospital. The deceased were identified as Singh’s younger son Gagan Pal Singh, daughter-in-law Bhawna Singh, grandson Rupir Singh and granddaughter Sohabi Singh. The housemaid, Khusi Das, was also killed in the fire mishap.
Singh was admitted to Capital Hospital with serious burn injuries and his condition is stated to be stable.
“The incident took place in the early hours while all members of the family were asleep. Fire tenders and police rushed to the spot after receiving a call from a local resident, who saw smoke billowing from the house. Prima facie, it appears a short circuit led to the fire,” a police officer informed.
According to preliminary investigation, the fire started from an air conditioner and soon spread to different rooms on the second floor of the three-storey building.