Police said businessman Sanjay Verma, 45, his son Chiku, 2, daughter Harshu, 9, and father-in-law Vijay Verma, 63, were killed in the tragedy that took place minutes after the family had a joyous birthday celebration.
Four members of a family, including two children, died of asphyxiation and burns while trying to escape an early morning fire in a residential building in east Delhi's Shahdra on Friday.
Police said businessman Sanjay Verma, 45, his son Chiku, 2, daughter Harshu, 9, and father-in-law Vijay Verma, 63, were killed in the tragedy that took place minutes after the family had a joyous birthday celebration.
The fire engulfed parts of the building at 2.30 am, soon after the family went to sleep, having celebrated Harshu's birthday. Only Sanjay's wife Mona, 32, and their elder daughter Happy, 14, survived the smoke and blaze.
The fire reportedly started from an electricity meter board on the ground floor.
Mona sustained 55-60 per cent burns, mainly on her hands, face and lower body. She will require plastic surgery later, doctors said. She is undergoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital. Happy was somehow saved by a neighbour in time, and she is doing well.
Police said the family, who lived in a second-floor apartment of the four-storey building, rushed upstairs, but could not escape as the terrace was locked. Their bodies were found on the third floor.
"I heard Mona's cries for help... I immediately alerted my husband and neighbours. We all rushed, but could not help them because of the massive flames," said Hemlata Jena, who lives in an adjacent building.
She said that there were more than a dozen two-wheelers parked near the ground floor stairs, the only exit from the building.
Occupants of the building, who managed to escape in time, said that the Verma family panicked and ran upstairs instead of going down through the backdoor.
Shankar Durani, who lived on the top floor, escaped through the ground floor exit. He said, "The family looked in panic. They planned to jump terraces and enter a neighbouring building. To their horror, the terrace was locked."
DCP (Shahdra) Nupur Prasad said forensics and fire officials have visited the spot to ascertain the cause of the fire.
How it unfolded
The fire engulfed parts of the building at 2.30 am, soon after the family went to sleep.
Only Sanjay’s wife Mona, 32, and their elder daughter Happy, 14, survived.
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