In brief
At least 18 people were killed in three separate fire incidents over Diwali in India. Local police in Madhya Pradesh confirmed six deaths in each of Seoni and Katni districts. A Maharashtra incident also claimed six lives, while a Facebook post from IndiaTV reports 12 deaths in two Madhya Pradesh incidents, reflecting conflicting early figures.
At least 18 people lost their lives in three separate fire incidents that erupted overnight during Diwali celebrations in India, local police confirmed on Monday. The tragedies occurred in the central state of Madhya Pradesh’s Seoni and Katni districts and in the southwestern state of Maharashtra’s Dharashiv district.
In Seoni, a massive blaze broke out inside a three‑story house, killing six members of a single family and injuring four others who were transported to a local hospital. According to the police, the house was a family residence and the cause of the fire remains unknown.
Similarly, in Katni, a crockery shop in a multi‑story building was engulfed in flames, claiming the lives of six people from the same family. The shop’s owner and police said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
In Dharashiv, a house fire spread while residents slept, resulting in six deaths attributed to asphyxiation. Local authorities report no immediate cause, but say the victims were members of a same family.
An eyewitness‑style post on Facebook from IndiaTV cited 12 deaths in two separate Madhya Pradesh incidents on Diwali, describing the tragedy in Somnathpur and Surajgarh. The Facebook source claims that a two‑month‑old child was among the victims, but the post has not been officially verified by police.
The discrepancy between Xinhua’s reporting of 18 deaths and IndiaTV’s Facebook post of 12 raises questions about early headline figures. Both outlets note that causes remain largely undetermined, and police have not yet released a definitive investigation report.