Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Rudrapur: A 79-year-old paralyzed man, Shyam Lal Gangwar, died of severe burns after a fire broke out in his house in Mudeli area of Khatima in district Udham Singh Nagar in the wee hours on Monday morning. The incident adds to the growing number of fire-related deaths among elderly and disabled individuals during the winter season.
According to police, the fire started in Gangwar’s room under unknown circumstances while he was asleep on the ground floor. His family members were sleeping on the upper floors and only became aware of the fire when they noticed flames engulfing the room. Neighbors also woke up and rushed to help. The family immediately informed the fire department.
“We received a call about the fire and dispatched a team to the spot. The fire was brought under control, but unfortunately, the elderly man had already succumbed to the burns,” said a fire department official.
The family suspects that the fire may have been caused by a burning bidi, as Gangwar was a habitual smoker. The police have conducted a post-mortem and handed over the body to the family on Monday evening.
This is not the first such case in the region. On February 13 last year, a 55-year-old disabled retired teacher, Bhavna Verma, died in a fire at her home in Tanakpur of Champawat district, reportedly caused by a short circuit while using a heater. Her physical condition prevented her from escaping.
