12 Killed in Two House Fires in Madhya Pradesh on Diwali Night
Six members of one family died in a fire in Katni and six members of another family died in a fire in Seoni, in two separate incidents on Diwali night. The causes of both fires are still unknown and police are investigating.
Key points
- At least 12 members of two families, including a two-month-old infant, children and elderly persons, were killed in two separate fire incidents in Madhya Pradesh's Katni and Seoni districts on…
- In Katni, six members of the Agrawal family were killed after a fire broke out in a three-storey building in Barhi town around midnight.
- The dead were identified as Puran Agrawal, 77, his wife Chandrakala, 74, their daughter-in-law Poonam, 35, Arya, 14, Anvi, 6, and a two-month-old infant.
At least 12 members of two families, including a two-month-old infant, children and elderly persons, were killed in two separate fire incidents in Madhya Pradesh's Katni and Seoni districts on Diwali night, IANS reported.
Katni: six of one family
In Katni, six members of the Agrawal family were killed after a fire broke out in a three-storey building in Barhi town around midnight. The fire spread rapidly from the ground floor shop to the upper floors, where the family members were sleeping.
The dead were identified as Puran Agrawal, 77, his wife Chandrakala, 74, their daughter-in-law Poonam, 35, Arya, 14, Anvi, 6, and a two-month-old infant.
ANI reported that the shop belonged to Puran Lal Agrawal, that the ground floor housed a plastic-related unit while the upper floor served as his residence, and that Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Virendra Narve said the six victims included two elderly individuals both around 70 years of age, one woman, and three young children.
Katni District Collector Ashish Tiwari said the administration received information about the incident around 12:30 a.m. and the first fire brigade reached the spot by 12:45 a.m., Daily Jagran reported. Two people inside the building managed to escape safely.
State Disaster Response Force official Vijayansh Chaudhary said the rescue operation had been underway for around five and a half hours, with the active phase lasting between three and a half and four hours, and confirmed that six bodies had been recovered.
Seoni: six of another family
In Seoni district, six members of a family were killed when a fire broke out at the residence of bullion trader Kundan Soni in Mahavir Ward of Chhapara town around 3 a.m.
The two incidents were separate. Between them, two families lost 12 people in a single night, on the festival night when homes across India are lit with lamps and candles.
Causes not yet known
The causes of both fires are yet to be ascertained, and police are investigating both incidents. Sub-Divisional Officer of Police Virendra Narve said: "The cause of the fire is not known at this stage. It is suspected that it could have been triggered by a diya or a short circuit, but the exact reason will be established only after an investigation."
That suspicion is not a finding. Until investigators report, what started either fire is unknown.
Timeline
- Nov 9, 2026Around midnight, a fire breaks out in a three-storey building in Barhi town, Katni district, and spreads from the ground floor shop to the upper floors.
- Nov 9, 2026Around 12:30 a.m. the district administration receives information about the Katni fire; the first fire brigade reaches the spot by 12:45 a.m.
- Nov 9, 2026Around 3 a.m., a fire breaks out at a residence in Mahavir Ward, Chhapara town, Seoni district, killing six members of a second family.
- Nov 9, 2026Police say the causes of both fires are yet to be ascertained and investigations are underway in both districts.