BENGALURU: A 54-year-old woman lost her life in a devastating fire that broke out in a duplex residence at Gayathrinagar under the limits of Subramanyanagar Police Station in north Bengaluru on Monday night. The deceased has been identified as Savitha, wife of city-based contractor Ramesh Babu. The family was residing in a four-storey building, where the ground and first floors had been rented out, while the upper two floors were converted into a duplex home for the family. According to the preliminary investigation, the fire is suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit. The blaze reportedly started in the kitchen on the third floor between 9.30 pm and 9.50 pm and quickly spread across the upper portion of the house. As thick smoke engulfed the duplex, Savitha climbed to the terrace but is believed to have suffered severe breathing difficulties and died of suffocation. Though she sustained minor injuries to her face, they were not fatal. Despite desperate rescue efforts, she could not be saved. Fire and emergency personnel rushed to the spot upon receiving information. With swift action by the police and fire personnel, they managed to douse the flames and rescue three family members — Ramesh Babu, his mother Chinnamma, and their son — who were trapped inside the burning house. Two of them suffered breathing problems and were shifted to a nearby private hospital for treatment. A neighbour recounted the harrowing moments: “They were screaming for help from upstairs. The police and fire personnel rushed in and brought Ramesh Babu, his mother and their son down. Savitha was on the terrace, but the fire was too intense for anyone to reach her.” Authorities said the timely intervention of fire personnel saved three lives, even as the family was left shattered by Savitha’s tragic death. A case has been registered at Subramanyanagar Police Station. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
