Bhopal, May 23 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday expressed profound grief over the tragic house fire in Kasihwa village of Sidhi district that claimed the lives of three young children earlier in the day.

Describing the incident as extremely distressing and heart-rending, the Chief Minister extended his deepest condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace for the departed souls.

He assured the family that the state government stood firmly with them in this hour of grief and announced substantial financial assistance to help them cope with the irreparable loss.

According to the announcement, the Madhya Pradesh government will provide financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh to the family of the deceased children.

The amount includes Rs 2 lakh from the state government and Rs 4 lakh from the MP Poorv Kshetra Vidyut Vitaran Company Limited.

Additionally, the District Red Cross Society has already provided immediate relief of Rs 20,000 to the family.

The district administration has also extended funeral assistance of Rs 15,000.

The tragic incident occurred at around 11.20 a.m. in Kasihwa village under Gopad Banas tehsil when a suspected short circuit from an electric pole near the house of Ramratan Saket triggered a massive blaze.

The fire rapidly engulfed the tiled-roof house, trapping the three children inside.

The victims were identified as Kumari Ghummu alias Sandhya Saket, aged around one-and-a-half years, her younger sister Riddhi, aged about one year, and their brother Nagendra, aged around three years.

The parents were away at the time — the father had gone to the city for daily wage work, while the mother had stepped out to buy groceries — leaving the children alone at home.

Villagers rushed to the spot but were unable to control the flames due to inadequate resources.

The fire brigade reached the village nearly two hours later, by which time the house had already been reduced to ashes.

The bodies were later recovered and sent for post-mortem examination after completion of police formalities.

Sidhi Collector Vikas Mishra had earlier visited the village, consoled the grieving family and assured prompt assistance under the Sambal Yojana and other welfare schemes.

–IANS

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