Tragedy struck Behta Hajipur village in the Loni border area of Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday night, claiming the lives of five family members, including two young children, in a devastating fire that engulfed their home.

Providing grim details, Additional Police Commissioner Dinesh Kumar confirmed the loss of five lives, emphasizing that the victims included a 7-month-old infant, an eight-year-old child, two women, and a 35-year-old man—all from the same family.

The fire, which broke out late in the night of June 12, prompted swift response from authorities, with police and fire brigade rushing to the scene upon receiving distress calls about trapped individuals in a house ablaze.

Describing the harrowing ordeal, officials revealed that the fire rapidly spread through the building’s floors, trapping occupants on higher levels. Despite efforts to contain the blaze, five lives were lost, their identities being ascertained.

Among the deceased were elderly individuals, while the injured, including a woman and a child, were promptly hospitalized for treatment. The house’s owner, Sarik, a contractor who was away at the time, returned to a devastating sight of flames engulfing his home, potentially ignited by a short circuit or exacerbated by stored equipment, as per local accounts.

While initial reports suggest the possibility of foam cubes intensifying the inferno, authorities remain committed to conducting a thorough inquiry to determine the exact cause of the tragic fire.