At least 12 members of two families — including a two-month-old infant, children, and elderly persons — lost their lives in two separate fire tragedies in Madhya Pradesh's Katni and Seoni districts on Diwali night, turning the festival of lights into a night of grief. Both incidents occurred in the early hours of 9 November 2026, with causes yet to be officially established and police investigations underway.

Katni: Six from Agrawal Family Perish in Barhi Town Blaze

The first tragedy struck around midnight in Barhi town, Katni district, when a massive fire engulfed a three-storey building that housed a crockery shop on the ground floor. The flames spread rapidly to the upper floors, where the family was asleep, trapping them in thick smoke with little chance of escape.

The six deceased were identified as Puran Agrawal (77), his wife Chandrakala (74), daughter-in-law Poonam (35), Arya (14), Anvi (6), and a two-month-old infant. Two other family members managed to escape in the initial moments. Rescue operations stretched through the night — Puran Agrawal was pulled out around 4:30 am, while the remaining five bodies were recovered around 6:30 am after rescuers used a JCB machine to break through a wall.

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.'

Local residents alleged lapses in the firefighting response, claiming the fire tender from Barhi arrived with a damaged pipe, and the vehicle from Vijayraghavgarh reportedly also had a faulty pipe. Fire tenders from Kaimore and Katni Municipal Corporation later joined the operation and eventually brought the blaze under control.

Seoni: Bullion Trader's Family Wiped Out in Chhapara Town

The second incident occurred around 3 am in Mahavir Ward of Chhapara town, Seoni district, at the residence of bullion trader Kundan Soni. All six family members who died were asleep when the blaze erupted, according to authorities.

The deceased were identified as Kundan Lal Soni (75), Rajkumari Soni (65), Ritu Soni (42), Smriti Soni (40), Surya Soni (45), and Aditya Soni (16). Four other family members, including two minors, were rescued and admitted to hospital. A total of 10 people were present in the house when the fire broke out.

SDOP Lakhnadon Apoorva Bhalavi confirmed that the family members were asleep when the fire started, leaving them with little opportunity to escape. The cause of this fire also remains under investigation.

Fire Safety and Emergency Response Under Scrutiny

The twin tragedies have reignited concerns over fire safety preparedness during festivals, particularly in smaller towns where fire departments may be under-resourced. Notably, the alleged failure of fire tenders in Katni — reportedly arriving with damaged equipment — points to systemic gaps in emergency response infrastructure.

Diwali, with its widespread use of diyas, firecrackers, and electrical lighting, historically sees a spike in fire incidents across India. This is not an isolated pattern — fire departments in smaller urban centres frequently face resource constraints during peak festival nights when demand surges simultaneously across multiple locations.

Investigation and What Comes Next

Police in both Katni and Seoni districts have launched investigations into the respective incidents. The exact causes — whether a diya flame, an electrical short circuit, or other factors — are yet to be confirmed. Authorities have not yet announced any administrative action regarding the alleged firefighting lapses in Barhi. The state government's response is being watched closely as questions mount over fire preparedness in Madhya Pradesh's smaller towns.