Katni fire: Magisterial probe ordered after 6 killed on Diwali night
Synopsis
Six lives, including three children and a two-month-old infant, were lost in a Diwali-night fire in Katni, Madhya Pradesh — even as four fire tenders stood deployed. Now the district collector has ordered a formal inquiry and personally apologised to the bereaved family, raising hard questions about fire safety enforcement and emergency response in India's smaller towns.
Key Takeaways
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the Katni fire that killed six people , including three children and a two-month-old infant , on Diwali night (8 November) .
Katni Collector Ashish Tiwari has constituted a four-member committee headed by Additional Collector Nilambar Mishra .
The committee must submit its report within 30 days and will examine safety compliance, rescue operations, and possible negligence.
The fire broke out at a crockery and plastic goods shop owned by Puran Agrawal in Barhi town ; the upper floors housed the family's residence.
Four fire tenders were deployed but failed to control the blaze, prompting the Collector to publicly apologise to the bereaved family.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the Katni fire that killed six people — including three children and a two-month-old infant — at a three-storey residential-cum-commercial building in Madhya Pradesh's Katni district on Diwali night, 8 November 2026. The probe comes amid mounting questions over the response of local fire services, which deployed four fire tenders but could not contain the blaze.
The Inquiry Committee
Katni Collector Ashish Tiwari has constituted a four-member committee headed by Additional Collector Nilambar Mishra to investigate the cause of the fire, examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, and determine whether negligence or administrative lapses were involved. The committee has been directed to submit its findings within 30 days.
The panel includes Vijay Dhareve, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Vijayraghavgarh; Manish Parte, Chief Municipal Officer (CMO), Kaimore; and Jyoti Yadav, Assistant Engineer (Electrical Safety), Katni, according to an order issued on Monday night.
Scope of the Investigation
The committee will examine whether the building and the crockery and plastic goods shop operating on its ground floor complied with prescribed safety regulations. It will also assess the rescue and relief operations conducted by the police, revenue department, and fire services.
The panel is empowered to record statements from eyewitnesses, affected persons, and other relevant individuals, and to examine departmental records, documents, and available evidence. Notably, the inquiry will specifically determine whether any negligence occurred at any level and identify those responsible, if any. The final report must also recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
How the Fire Broke Out
The fire originated on Diwali night at the ground-floor shop owned by Puran Agrawal in Barhi town. The three-storey building housed a crockery and plastic goods shop on the ground floor, with the family's residence on the upper floors. The shop had been heavily stocked with goods for the Diwali season, and the flames spread rapidly, trapping family members who were reportedly asleep upstairs.
Despite four fire tenders being deployed at the site, firefighters were unable to bring the blaze under control for several hours. The failure to save the occupants has drawn significant public anger and scrutiny of local fire service preparedness.
Collector Apologises to Bereaved Family
Facing angry residents in the aftermath, Collector Tiwari publicly apologised to the bereaved family and local residents. 'Despite four fire brigade vehicles being at the spot, the six lives could not be saved. I apologise for it. Despite the fire tenders and rescue teams being on the ground, due to some reasons, the lives could not be saved,' he said on Monday.
The inquiry now places the administration's emergency preparedness and building-safety enforcement under formal scrutiny. Its findings are expected to shape accountability measures and potentially trigger action against those found negligent.
Point of View
Including a two-month-old, points to either inadequate equipment or inadequate training, possibly both. The collector's public apology is unusual and commendable for its candour, but contrition is not accountability. The 30-day inquiry will matter only if it names specific lapses and triggers action — not just recommendations that sit in a file.
NationPress
10 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Katni fire on Diwali night?
A fire broke out on Diwali night, 8 November, at a crockery and plastic goods shop on the ground floor of a three-storey building in Barhi town, Katni district, Madhya Pradesh. The blaze rapidly spread to the upper floors where the family of shop owner Puran Agrawal resided, killing six people including three children and a two-month-old infant.
Why has a magisterial inquiry been ordered?
Katni Collector Ashish Tiwari ordered the inquiry to determine the cause of the fire, assess whether safety regulations were violated, and examine whether negligence by any authority contributed to the deaths. The probe was also prompted by questions over why four fire tenders deployed at the scene could not save the six lives.
Who is heading the probe committee and what is its mandate?
The four-member committee is headed by Additional Collector Nilambar Mishra and also includes the SDOP Vijayraghavgarh, the CMO Kaimore, and an Assistant Engineer (Electrical Safety). It must report within 30 days, covering safety compliance, rescue operations, departmental lapses, and recommendations to prevent similar tragedies.
What did Katni Collector Ashish Tiwari say after the fire?
Collector Tiwari publicly apologised to the bereaved family and local residents, acknowledging the administration's failure to save lives despite deploying four fire tenders. He said, 'Despite four fire brigade vehicles being at the spot, the six lives could not be saved. I apologise for it.'
What broader safety concerns does this fire raise?
The incident raises serious questions about fire service preparedness and building-safety enforcement in smaller towns. The shop had been heavily stocked with Diwali-season goods, suggesting potential violations of fire-safety norms. The inquiry will assess whether the building and the shop complied with prescribed safety regulations.
