Alwar: Four people were burnt alive and a woman sustained serious injuries after a massive fire broke out at a scrap warehouse in Molhadiya village in Neemrana area of Kotputli-Behror district Friday.The deceased were identified as Dashrath (28) of Neemrana, Ravidat Yadav (58) of Narnaul in Haryana, Kavita (17) of Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh, and Aarushi (7). Police said the bodies were recovered late at night and shifted to the mortuary. However, they were charred beyond recognition, therefore authorities have initiated DNA sampling of relatives for identification.Additional SP Suresh Khinchi said the intensity of the fire made identification difficult, necessitating DNA tests.Preliminary investigation indicate negligence. According to reports, around 5 pm, two people arrived at the warehouse to collect scrap and lit a matchstick to smoke a bidi. At the same time, workers inside were breaking perfume bottles, causing flammable vapours to accumulate in the air. Women present there reportedly warned the men not to light the match, but they ignored the warning, triggering a fire that engulfed the warehouse within moments.The blaze was so intense that four people trapped inside could not escape. Nearly half a dozen fire tenders were rushed to the spot, and the fire was brought under control after about three hours.Kotputli-Behror district collector Aparna Gupta, the SP and other senior officials reached the site to assess the situation. The administration said a detailed investigation is underway to ascertain the exact cause and prevent such incidents in the future.
