In brief
Local police confirmed that three separate fires in Seoni, Katni and Dharashiv on the night of Diwali resulted in 18 deaths, all involving family members. While the causes remain undetermined, conflicting reports from other outlets say fewer fatalities. Investigation continues as hospitals treat injuries.
Local police confirmed that at least 18 people were killed in three separate fire incidents across India during the night of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights celebrated on Sunday.
In the town of Seoni in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, a massive blaze erupted inside a three‑story home, killing six members of the Soni family – father Kundan Lal Soni, 75, mother Rajkumari Soni, 65, and their children Ritu, 42; Smriti, 40; Surya, 45; and Aditya, 16 – and leaving four others injured. The wounded were evacuated to a local hospital and admitted for treatment.
In the district of Katni, also in Madhya Pradesh, a fire broke out at a crockery shop situated within a multi‑story building. Six members of a single family died, and the local constable said the cause of the blaze was still unknown.
In Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, a fire spread inside a house while occupants slept. Six individuals of the same family succumbed to asphyxiation, and authorities have yet to determine the source of the fire.
The Daijiworld news site identified the identities of the six deceased in Seoni, confirming the names listed above. No other details of the Katni or Dharashiv incidents have been publicly released by police.
However, an earlier report from News18 indicated that only three people were killed and three others went missing amid Diwali‑related fire incidents across the country, and that several shops were gutted. Those figures conflict with the Xinhua report and remain unconfirmed by local authorities.
Police are still investigating the causes of all three fires, and casualties from the Katni and Dharashiv incidents have yet to be fully accounted for.