Chaos erupted in Jalandhar's Anand Nagar locality after five family members, including three children, were burnt alive in a fire caused by a compressor blast from a 'newly bought' refrigerator. The shocking Jalandhar Anand Nagar blast took place on Sunday at around 11 p.m. (IST).
The deceased were Yashpal Ghai (70), Ruchi Ghai, 40, Mansha, 14, Diya, 12, and Akshay, 10. Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagmohan Singh was quoted informing about the Jalandhar Anand Nagar's cause of blast. He said, "It appears that short-circuit in the compressor caused the explosion. Soon, the entire house was engulfed in flames."
Notably, as soon as the compressor blat was reported, local authorities rushed to the spot. ADCP Jalandhar Aditya was quoted saying, "We received information about an explosion-like incident in a house in Jalandhar's Avtar Nagar, after which we immediately reached the spot. Six people were injured in the incident and have been admitted to the hospital. We are investigating the reason behind the accident. We have called the FSL team."
Talking more about the incident, a cop further informed that the deceased were asleep when the horrific refrigerator blast took place. "They were caught unawares and could not escape as fire spread rapidly,” said a police official.
As per reports, a member of the family, an elderly woman, was sitting in the other room when she suddenly heard a sound as if there was an explosion, and everyone started hearing a loud noise. She started screaming for help. After which the fire brigade was called on the spot. The fire brigade team reached the spot and controlled the fire.
After dozing off the fire, the fire brigade brought burnt family members out of their house and sent them to the Civil Hospital. Notably, doctors at the civil hospital declared three family members 'brought dead'. Seeing the condition of two of them critically, they referred them to a private hospital, and there both of them died during treatment.
It is pertinent to mention here that the family had reportedly bought a new double-door fridge just 6 to 7 months before.