In a heart-wrenching incident, a devastating house fire claimed the life of Umesh Narayan Tiwari, the 92-year-old father of a Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) General Manager, while three other family members were saved after a daring rescue operation.

 

The fire, which is believed to have started in Umesh Tiwari’s room, spread rapidly through their home in Sector-9, Bhilai. A swift response from Bhilai Nagar police led to the successful rescue of GM Animesh Tiwari (58), his wife Archana Tiwari (52), and their daughter Apoorva Tiwari (23) by breaking through the window grilles of the adjoining rooms. The BSP Fire Brigade arrived shortly after and managed to extinguish the flames.

While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, early indications point to a possible short circuit as the culprit. Bhilai Nagar police have recorded the unnatural death and further investigations are underway.

Police sources identified the victim as

 

Umesh Narayan Tiwari, who was bedridden due to paralysis. At around 2:40 am on Saturday, the police were alerted to the fire, and rescue operations were swiftly initiated. Flames had already engulfed Umesh Tiwari’s room, but officers managed to free the other family members through the windows. Sadly, Umesh Tiwari, unable to move, succumbed to the fire. The room was reduced to ashes, with the air-conditioner and furniture completely destroyed. Investigators noted a tangled mess of electrical cables in the room, reinforcing suspicions of an electrical short circuit. Animesh Tiwari is serving as a General Manager (Administration M&HS), BSP, the police said. A local resident informed the newspaper that the power cables in BSP Township quarters are in a deplorable condition, warning that the potential for further such incidents cannot be ruled out. He criticized the Town Services Department (BSP), specifically the electrical section, for neglecting proper maintenance. He urged the the officials to replace the outdated cables immediately to prevent future tragedies.

 

He called for the urgent overhaul of the township’s power supply network, especially before the onset of the monsoon season. Inspector Prashant Mishra, SHO of Bhilai Nagar Police Station, confirmed the tragic loss of Umesh Narayan Tiwari in the blaze. He added that the police are further investigating.