Kanpur Tragedy: Parents and Three Daughters Burnt Alive in Four-Storey Building Fire
Kanpur, India – A horrific fire broke out in a four-storey building in the Prem Nagar area of Kanpur on Sunday night, claiming the lives of five family members — a couple and their three young daughters. The blaze, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, started around 8:00 PM on the first floor and quickly engulfed the entire building.
Fire Breaks Out in Shoe Factory Building
The building housed a shoe manufacturing unit on the first and second floors, while the family resided on the third and fourth. The fire intensified rapidly due to explosions caused by gas cylinders, chemical drums, and air conditioners stored in the premises. Eyewitnesses reported multiple blasts as the fire spread within 20 minutes.
Massive Rescue Operation Launched
Despite a massive firefighting effort involving 20 fire engines and an SDRF team from Lucknow, the blaze raged for over seven hours. Rescue teams managed to save four members of a family trapped on the third floor. Tragically, they could not reach the fourth floor in time to save Mohammad Danish (45), his wife Nazmi Saba (42), and their daughters — Sara (15), Simra (12), and Inaya (7).
Their charred bodies were recovered at 3:00 AM. One of the most heartbreaking moments was when firefighters found the body of a daughter tightly clinging to her mother — a sight that moved even the most seasoned rescuers to tears.
Victims Were Trapped on Top Floor
According to reports, Danish’s elder brother, Kashif, lived with his family on the third floor and was rescued. Danish ran back upstairs in a desperate attempt to save his daughters after briefly coming downstairs. That was the last time he was seen. His final conversation was a brief “hello” to his father over the phone before the call disconnected and his phone went dead.
Initial reports suggest the fire began in the basement, and due to the presence of highly flammable chemicals like dendrite in the shoe factory, it spread uncontrollably. The nearby godown also caught fire. Locals initially tried to douse the fire themselves before alerting the fire department at 8:48 PM. The first response team arrived by 9:15 PM, but heavy smoke and multiple explosions made the rescue operation extremely challenging.
Surrounding Area Evacuated for Safety
Authorities blocked a 500-meter radius around the building and evacuated nearby residents for safety. Electricity to the area was also cut off. Hydraulic equipment was deployed to spray water on the upper floors, and neighboring rooftops were used to access the building.
Investigation Underway
This tragic incident has shocked the entire city. Investigations are underway, and safety violations at the shoe factory are also being probed. The loss of the young girls and their parents has left the neighborhood in deep mourning.
