Bengaluru shed fire kills two children in Kothanur, Narayanapura
Synopsis
Two young siblings, aged 5 and 3, died in a shed fire in Bengaluru's Kothanur on 11 May 2025 while their migrant labourer parents were at work. The tragedy is the latest in a string of fatal fires in Bengaluru's makeshift migrant settlements, raising urgent questions about fire safety for the city's most vulnerable workers.
Key Takeaways
Arjun (5) and Asha (3) , siblings from Raichur district , died in a shed fire in Kothanur, Bengaluru on 11 May 2025 .
Their parents, Durgappa and Savitri , were at work as daily wage labourers at JCS company when the fire broke out at around 1.30 pm .
The children were left briefly in their grandmother's care; she had stepped outside when the fire started, trapping both children inside.
Kothanur police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
At least two other fatal fire incidents involving migrant workers in Bengaluru have been recorded in 2025 , including a blaze that destroyed 20 sheds in Somasundarpalya on 26 April 2025 .
Two children died after a fire broke out in a temporary shed near Narayanapura in the Kothanur area of Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Monday, 11 May 2025. The victims, siblings Arjun (5) and Asha (3), were trapped inside the makeshift structure while their parents were away at work.
Who the Children Were
Arjun and Asha were originally from Raichur district in Karnataka. Their parents, Durgappa and Savitri, had migrated to Bengaluru for daily wage work and had been living in makeshift sheds near Narayanapura for the past six months. According to police, the couple worked as labourers at a firm identified as JCS company.
How the Fire Broke Out
The family had recently returned to Bengaluru after spending a week in their native village. Police said the contractor had reportedly instructed the couple not to bring their children to the worksite. Following this, the mother left the children in the care of their grandmother before leaving for work.
At around 1 pm, the grandmother allegedly stepped out of the shed briefly, leaving the children alone inside. A fire broke out during that time, trapping both children. One child died on the spot, while the other succumbed to injuries while being shifted to hospital, police said. The incident is recorded as having taken place at around 1.30 pm.
Police Response and Investigation
Personnel from Kothanur police station rushed to the spot, conducted an inspection, and registered a case. Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire. No arrests have been reported at this stage.
A Pattern of Fire Tragedies Among Migrant Workers in Bengaluru
This is not an isolated incident. On 26 April 2025, a major fire in the early hours destroyed at least 20 temporary sheds and scrap godowns in Somasundarpalya, under the Bandepalya police station limits in Bengaluru. That settlement primarily housed migrant workers from West Bengal who earned their living through rag-picking and waste segregation.
In February 2025, two construction workers were killed at an under-construction building on the outskirts of Bengaluru, near Seegehalli Gate within the Madanayakanahalli police station limits. Preliminary investigations in that case suggested the blaze may have been triggered by a gas cylinder leak or a short circuit. Three other workers escaped safely.
The recurring nature of these incidents points to the acute vulnerability of migrant labour communities in Bengaluru, who often live in densely packed, flammable temporary structures with little to no fire safety infrastructure. Authorities are yet to announce any systemic measures addressing fire risk in such settlements.
Point of View
Not a freak accident. Bengaluru's migrant labour population lives in flammable, overcrowded temporary settlements with virtually no fire safety provisions — and this is at least the third fatal fire incident involving such communities in the city in 2025 alone. The contractor's reported instruction to keep children away from the worksite, while procedurally defensible, also underscores how little the formal employment ecosystem accounts for the childcare reality of migrant families. Until Bengaluru's civic and labour authorities treat migrant settlement fire safety as a governance priority — not just a post-incident police matter — these tragedies will keep repeating.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kothanur shed fire in Bengaluru?
Two children, Arjun (5) and Asha (3), died after a fire broke out in a temporary shed near Narayanapura in Bengaluru's Kothanur area on 11 May 2025. Their parents were at work as daily wage labourers when the blaze trapped the siblings inside.
Who were the children who died in the Kothanur fire?
The children were identified as Arjun, aged 5, and Asha, aged 3, siblings originally from Raichur district in Karnataka. Their parents, Durgappa and Savitri, had been living in Bengaluru for six months as migrant workers.
What caused the Kothanur shed fire?
The exact cause of the fire is under investigation by Kothanur police. The children were left briefly in their grandmother's care when the fire broke out; the grandmother had stepped outside the shed at the time.
Is this the first such fire incident involving migrant workers in Bengaluru in 2025?
No. On 26 April 2025, a fire destroyed at least 20 temporary sheds in Somasundarpalya, Bengaluru, housing migrant workers from West Bengal. In February 2025, two construction workers also died in a fire at an under-construction building near Seegehalli Gate in Bengaluru.
What action has been taken after the Kothanur fire?
Personnel from Kothanur police station inspected the site and registered a case. Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. No arrests have been reported so far.
