RAJKOT: A devastating fire late Wednesday night in Manmandir Apartments on Palace Road, Rajkot, resulted in the tragic deaths of a 92-year-old woman, Prabha Pujara, and her 61-year-old son, Narendra Pujara. Police suspect the cause of death was a combination of burns and suffocation.The incident was reported around midnight on Wednesday on the 4th floor of the apartment building. The fire brigade and police rushed to the scene. The unconscious mother and son were immediately shifted to the civil hospital, where they were pronounced dead by the on-duty Doctor.BV Borisagar, the Police Inspector of A Division Police Station, confirmed that an accidental death case was registered under section 194 of the BNSS. Initial police investigations indicated that electronic items in the flat’s kitchen and hall were completely destroyed by the fire. The police will engage the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team to conclusively determine the cause of the fire.According to Forum Chandarana, a family member, the fire broke out around 10:45 PM. At the time, only Prabha and Narendra Pujara were inside the flat. Neighbours informed Narendra Pujara’s wife, Shilpa Pujara, who was out with other family members. The family’s attempts to open the main door with a key were futile, as it was latched from the inside, forcing them to break the door down to gain entry.Upon finding the mother and son unconscious, they were rushed to the hospital. Family members believe that the deaths were primarily due to suffocation rather than burns. They also noted that no AC or lights were operational when the fire started.Narendra Pujara, who was retired, is survived by his son, who works in the handicrafts business, and a daughter. The Pujara family was reportedly planning to move into a new house with in a month.
