Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday, 9 November 2025, announced an ex-gratia of ₹4 lakh each for the families of 12 people killed in two separate fire incidents in Katni and Seoni districts during the Diwali festival. Yadav ordered detailed investigations into both incidents and directed officials to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured.

What Happened in Katni

In the first incident, six members of a family perished when a fire engulfed a three-storey building in Barhi town, Katni district. The structure housed a crockery shop on the ground floor, with the family residing on the upper floors. The deceased were identified as Puran Agrawal (77), his wife Chandrakala (74), daughter-in-law Poonam, granddaughters Arya (14) and Anvi (6), and a two-month-old infant.

The rescue operation continued for several hours. Family members alleged that faulty equipment and damaged hoses on the initial fire tenders hampered early efforts to control the blaze. Additional fire tenders were later called in from neighbouring areas.

What Happened in Seoni

The second incident occurred at around 4:30 am at the residence of goldsmith Kundan Lal Soni in Mahavir Ward, Chhapara town, Seoni district. Seoni Superintendent of Police Krishna Lalchandani confirmed that 10 people were inside the house when the fire broke out — four were rescued, while six died due to burns and suffocation.

'Preliminary assessment suggests that the fire may have been caused by a short circuit. Inadequate ventilation and heavy security locks at the premises also appear to have made it difficult for the family members to escape,' the SP said. A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has been called to examine the site and establish the precise cause.

Government Response

Chief Minister Yadav expressed deep grief over the deaths. 'The tragic incidents of fire during the Diwali festival in Barhi in Katni district and Chhapara in Seoni district, which claimed the lives of several members of two families, are deeply heart-wrenching,' he said in a statement. He directed both district administrations to provide all possible assistance to the affected families and to investigate how such tragedies could be prevented in future.

Context and Concerns

The twin disasters underscore persistent safety vulnerabilities in residential and mixed-use buildings during the festival season, when firecrackers and electrical loads peak sharply. Allegations of non-functional fire equipment in Katni raise questions about the readiness of civic fire-fighting infrastructure in smaller towns. This comes amid broader concerns across Indian states about fire-safety preparedness during Diwali, a period historically associated with a spike in accidental blazes.