Family escapes unhurt after fire in 4-storey house

Gorakhpur A family of 12 members had a narrow escape after a major fire broke out in a four-storey house in Rajghat police station area of Mirzapur on Monday morning.

It is suspected that a short circuit in an air conditioner on the third floor caused the fire, that spread rapidly, gutting a room and triggering panic in the neighbourhood.

Officials said all 12 members of the family managed to escape safely after rushing downstairs on noticing the fire. Locals immediately alerted the police and fire brigade, following which teams from Golghar fire station reached the spot and doused the flames.

Rishabh Kashyap, a resident, who runs a dry fruits business, said the fire started around 8am in the window AC unit on the third floor and quickly engulfed the room.

Chief fire officer Santosh Kumar Rai said that it took nearly two hours to bring the fire under control.