Varanasi: An 80-year-old retired Indian Air Force (AIF) personnel, Daya Shankar Gupta, was killed when a fire broke out in his house in Shiv Vihar Colony under Sarnath police limits on Monday.
According reports, some local residents first spotted thick smoke emanating from his house and raised an alarm. They also attempted to douse the flames after calling the police control room. Upon receiving information, Sarnath police along with a firefighting team reached the spot. DCP Varuna Zone T Saravanan, ACP Sarnath Atul Kumar Anjan and other senior officials also arrived. When the firefighters and police entered the house after dousing the flames, they found the charred body of Gupta on his bed.
The ACP stated that Gupta died on the spot and his body was sent for a post-mortem examination. During initial investigation, it came to light that the fire was caused by a short circuit in the electric wires and appliances of the house. Later, Gupta's daughter Shashikala, who lives in Lalpur area, arrived. She informed the police that Gupta had two sons, who reside with their families in Bengaluru. Despite their request to go with them, Gupta preferred living at his house alone and ran a medical store in the outer part of the building. Retired from the IAF as a medical warrant officer , he was taken care of by Shashikala, who frequently visited him.