Four members of a family were charred to death in their sleep as fire broke out apparently due to gas leak, at their residence in Yerpedu mandal near here early on Sunday.
A pall of gloom descended on Rajulakandriga of Madibaka panchayat with the villagers, relatives of the deceased and neighbours wailing over the deaths.
N. Srinivasulu Reddy (30), an autorickshaw driver, was sleeping in his newly-built house along with his wife Bujjamma (26) and their children Bhavya (6) and Nikhil (4) when the incident happened.
Preliminary inquiry suggested that the geyser in the attached bathroom developed a leak. With all the doors and windows closed, the gas spread to the entire house. As all the inmates inhaled it, they fell unconscious. The electric bulb glowing in the bathroom apparently triggered a blast and all the four were burnt alive.
Neighbours alerted the police on finding smoke emanating from the house in the early hours. SP (Tirupati Urban) K.N.N. Anburajan rushed to the spot on coming to know of the incident.
Preliminary probe
“After a detailed study of the scene and preliminary inquiry, it appears to be a case of accident due to gas leak,” Additional SP P. Anil Babu told the media. All angles would be probed, he added.
Policemen from Yerpedu and Renigunta stations gathered evidence and made inquiries with the neighbours.
As smoke engulfed the entire house, a thick coat of soot is seen on its walls and ceiling.