Ahmedabad: Father, 9-year-old son die in eblaze at Vejalpur row house

Ahmedabad: A routine night's sleep turned into an unimaginable tragedy in the early hours of Feb 24, when a fire tore through a row house in Vejalpur, killing a 39-year-old man and his 9-year-old son, while three other family members managed to escape.The blaze broke out around 3.20am at House No. 4 in Krishnanagari row house near Bakery City on Makarba Road. The Gohil family — five members across two generations — went to bed after dinner. Within hours, thick smoke began filling the upper floor where they were sleeping.
According to an accidental death case filed at Vejalpur police station, the tragedy occurred between 3.20am and 5.02am. The deceased were identified as Dhruv Gohil, employed with a private factory in Changodar GIDC, and his son Shashwat, a Class 4 student.The three women, including Dhruv's wife, Mital Gohil, climbed down through a neighbouring house and reached the society compound as flames intensified below. Residents alerted the fire brigade at 3.28am. Fire officials later said the ground-floor hall appeared to be the point of origin, with preliminary suspicion pointing towards a short circuit or a possible spark from an air-conditioning unit.Firefighters entered the house amid near-zero visibility and pulled out Dhruv and Shashwat unconscious. Both were rushed to Sola Civil Hospital at 5.02am along with Mital, where Dhruv and Shashwat were declared dead, and Mital was undergoing treatment.Police registered an accidental death case under Section 194 of the BNSS. A forensic examination is underway to determine the precise cause of the blaze.A woman's desperate bid to save her familyDhruv's wife, Mital Gohil, who survived with burn injuries, told police that she woke up gasping for breath. "There was darkness everywhere. I tried to wake my husband, but he did not respond," she stated in her complaint. She attempted to drag him into another room but was overwhelmed by smoke. Unable to locate her son in the thick fumes, she rushed towards the balcony, where her mother-in-law and daughter gathered. They rushed out of the house. Mital Gohil's statement was registered in the police's unnatural death report. She told investigators that the family retired around 9.30pm on Feb 23. She, her husband, and her son slept in one room, while her mother-in-law and daughter occupied another.Timeline of the Tragedy• 9.30pm (Feb 23): Family goes to sleep after dinner• 3.28am (Feb 24): Fire control room receives a call about blaze• 3.30am: Smoke engulfs upper floor; family attempts escape• 4am: Fire tenders reach the spot; 3 water lines deployed• 5.02am: Dhruv and Shashwat declared dead at Sola Civil Hospital• 9am: Police register unnatural death reportWhat caused the fire?Preliminary findings suggest the blaze may have originated at the ground-floor hall due to an electrical short circuit. A senior fire officer indicated that a spark in an air-conditioning unit cannot be ruled out. However, officials emphasised that the exact cause will only be confirmed after forensic analysis. Investigators are examining wirings, electrical fittings, and appliances recovered from the debris. Police registered the case under Section 194 of the BNSS, pertaining to unnatural death, and forwarded documents for further inquiry. Fire officers and police said smoke inhalation likely rendered the victims unconscious before flames intensified.Fire safety in row housesThe tragedy once again highlighted vulnerabilities in densely built row-house clusters. Experts say such homes often have limited ventilation and single-exit staircases, increasing risk during night-time fires. Fire officials stress the importance of installing smoke detectors, maintaining electrical wiring, and ensuring accessible emergency exits. Regular inspection of air-conditioners and high-load appliances is also recommended. Residents of the society gathered later in the day to discuss preventive measures and emergency response coordination. For many, the tragedy became a grim reminder that fires spread rapidly — and smoke can turn fatal within minutes.