Patna: A horrific fire broke out in a hardware shop and house belonging to Pankaj Kumar in the Old Bypass area, under Bakhtiyarpur police station in Patna district, causing widespread panic. In this tragic incident, Pankaj Kumar's 45-year-old wife Reema Devi, 70-year-old mother Geeta Devi, and 6-month-old infant Astha were burnt alive. The entire area is gripped by grief following the incident.

According to local residents, the fire suddenly engulfed Pankaj Kumar's shop and residence, quickly escalating into a massive blaze. Those inside the house had no chance to react. Three members of Pankaj Kumar's family perished in the inferno. Astha, the six-month-old daughter of Moni Devi, identified as Pankaj Kumar's extended family's granddaughter, also fell victim to the flames. Moni Devi herself sustained injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.

Upon receiving information about the incident, Bakhtiyarpur police, fire department personnel, and administrative officials promptly arrived at the scene. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ayush Srivastava and Station House Officer Devanand Sharma assessed the situation and supervised relief and rescue operations. Local villagers, alongside the police and administration, joined the rescue efforts, which helped bring the fire under control and prevented a larger disaster in the vicinity.

Bakhtiyarpur police officials stated that three people have died, and one child managed to save her life by jumping from the first floor, subsequently being admitted to the hospital. The exact cause of the fire remains unclear at present. An investigation will commence after the fire is completely extinguished by firefighters, which is expected to reveal the actual cause. Police are investigating the entire matter and assessing the extent of the damage caused by the fire.