Patna, March 19 (NationPress) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conveyed his heartfelt sorrow on Thursday regarding the tragic loss of six individuals from Kishanganj district in a catastrophic fire that occurred in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

In his message of condolence, the Chief Minister offered prayers for the strength and resilience of the grieving families during this challenging period.

He declared an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh each from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the relatives of the deceased.

Furthermore, instructions have been given to the Resident Commissioner in New Delhi to facilitate the respectful return of the deceased’s bodies to their hometowns in Bihar.

The unfortunate incident took place on Wednesday between 3 and 4 a.m. at Brijeshwari Enclave, located under the Tilak Nagar police station in Indore.

A large fire consumed a three-story structure, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, including six family members from Bihar.

Initial reports indicate that the fire likely started from an electric vehicle parked outside the residence and connected for charging.

A suspected short circuit may have ignited the vehicle, leading to flames that rapidly spread throughout the building.

The fire’s intensity was exacerbated by LPG cylinder explosions within the home, giving occupants little opportunity to escape.

The victims from Bihar have been identified as Vijay Sethia (65), Suman (60), Manoj (65), Simran (30), Chhotu Sethia (22), and Rashi Sethia (12), residents of the Town Police Station area in Kishanganj.

Another person also perished in this incident, while three others suffered severe burn injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

Local witnesses reported that Vijay Sethia, a cosmetics businessman, had lived in Kishanganj for nearly two decades and was undergoing treatment for oral cancer. He had recently traveled to Indore with his family for medical care.

He had undergone surgery at Kokilaben Hospital and was staying with relatives in Brijeshwari Enclave when the tragedy struck.

Indore Police Commissioner Santosh Kumar Singh stated that authorities were alerted to the fire around 4 a.m. on Wednesday.

Preliminary findings suggest a family gathering was occurring when the fire ignited, creating a devastating situation.

"The fire rapidly engulfed the building and triggered explosions from LPG cylinders. Six bodies were found on one floor, with another death confirmed later. In total, seven have died, and three were rescued," added the Indore Police Commissioner.

The incident has cast a shadow of grief over the Kishanganj community, as an entire family was lost in this disaster.

Investigations are currently underway to determine the precise cause of the fire.