Bathinda (Punjab): Two sisters died of burn injuries while several others were injured in a blaze that broke out in the slums of Oriya colony here in the Punjab district early Tuesday.
According to the police, the fire broke out around 4 am when most of the people in the slums were fast asleep.
Father of the deceased told the police that a family living in the slums was cooking late when the fire started. Strong winds caused it to spread quickly. Both his daughters were hiding in a room that had a cylinder in it. When the fire spread the cylinder exploded close to the girls and both were badly burnt.
He had rushed them immediately to the Bathinda Civil Hospital, where the doctors declared them brought dead.
Fire brigade officer Paramjit Singh said lack of roads in the slum made accessibility difficult and they could not reach the spot quickly.
AAP MLA Jagroop Gill visited the spot and assured help to the families.