Fire in Noida's Sector 8 shanty: After 2 kids, father dies in hospital, mother on ventilator

NOIDA: A 32-year-old man, injured after a fire broke out in a Sector 8-based shanty on Sunday, succumbed to injuries early Monday morning during treatment at the Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. With the death of daily wage labourer Rizwan, the toll due to the fire reached 3.
Around 2.52 am on Sunday, a fire gutted a six-by-six feet room in the Sector 8 slum area while six family members slept inside. After a rescue operation, police took them to a city hospital, where doctors declared Rizwan's two children—a 12-year-old boy and a 12-days-old girl—“brought dead”.
Rizwan's wife Shabana (30), niece Nisha, and another son are still receiving treatment in the hospital.
“We rushed the six to a nearby hospital, where the two children were declared ‘brought dead’ while doctors referred the others to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Doctors at Safdarjung Hospital said Rizwan suffered over 80% burns and died during treatment at around 8 am on Monday. Shabana and Nisha are still critical since they have suffered 70% burn injuries. The former is on ventilator support. Rizwan's surviving son suffered 20% burn injuries and is currently out of danger, according to doctors,” a senior police officer said.
Rizwan was the sole earning member of the family. Rizwan’s father, Zafaruddin, said they are praying for the speedy recovery of the three surviving family members. “We are also trying to collect funds for their treatment at the Delhi hospital. Rizwan's neighbours in Sector 8 are trying to crowdfund money too. We carried out the cremation of the three deceased family members on Monday in Noida,” Zafaruddin said.
According to Noida chief fire officer Pradeep Kumar Chaubey, prima facie, the cause of the fire seems to be a leakage in the gas cylinder, which consequently exploded. The gas cylinder was found burst, with a fisheye hole opening, consistent with cylinder blast evidence. Further, the whole room was charred black due to the explosion. “Shabana might have woken up to warm milk on the stove. Since the cylinder was leaking, it exploded as soon as she lit the flame. Neighbours confirmed a loud blast,” said the CFO.
No case has been filed in the matter, said officials.