Elderly Couple Killed in Hathras House Fire in Uttar Pradesh, Electrical Short Circuit Suspected

An elderly couple died after a fire broke out at their residence in the Sadabad area of Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district in the early hours of Thursday. The blaze reportedly erupted around 1:30 am on November 5 while the couple was sleeping, leaving them trapped inside the house. The deceased were identified as Shahzad Beg, 70, and his wife, Salma Beg, 65. According to preliminary information, an electrical short circuit is suspected to have triggered the fire.

The incident took place in the Kaharan locality of Sadabad. Reports suggest that the couple was sleeping on the upper floor of the house when the fire broke out. A large quantity of clothes stored inside the premises reportedly helped the flames spread rapidly. After noticing the fire, neighbours alerted the authorities and attempted to help the couple. Fire brigade personnel and police teams soon reached the location and launched rescue and firefighting operations.

Despite the efforts, the elderly couple could not be saved. They were taken to a community health centre, where doctors declared them dead. Officials said suffocation may have been the cause of death. Chief Fire Officer R.K. Bajpai said the preliminary assessment indicated that an electrical short circuit could have caused the fire. The presence of clothes and other combustible materials inside the house may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

A 10-member team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was also dispatched from Vrindavan to assist in the rescue operation. However, the fire had reportedly been brought under control by the fire department before the team arrived. According to reports, the couple's younger son had gone to attend a wedding at his in-laws' residence along with his family. Their other children were also living separately, leaving the elderly couple alone at home when the incident occurred.

Police have initiated the necessary legal proceedings, and the bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination. Further investigation is underway to establish the exact cause of the fire. The tragic incident has once again highlighted the risks posed by electrical faults in residential buildings, particularly during nighttime hours when occupants may have little time to respond. Authorities suspect a short circuit in this case, although the final cause will be determined after the investigation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan times.