In a tragic accident, five members of a family including three women were burnt alive when a fire broke out in a house on Monday morning in Ner Chowk area of Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, around 130 km from here.

Police said the incident took place at around 5 am in a house where wedding reception was scheduled for today.

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The fire broke out when the people were asleep after a wedding procession (baraat) returned with the groom and the bride late on Sunday night.

“The cause of fire is being suspected to short-circuit and the victims didn’t had chance to escape the flames as LPG cylinders caught fire and immediately engulfed the house in flames,” police said, adding two rooms were completely gutted in the fire.

There are reports that the fire might have started due to small earthen lamps which were kept in the house for decoration purpose. The house which belonged to the uncle of the bridegroom was decorated as the wedding reception was scheduled to be held today.

Further, there were signs of LPG cylinder blast as the grills of the house were found bent outwards, police sources said.

Police said fire tenders had been rushed to the spot to douse the flames but five lives were already lost before the fire could be brought under control.

The deceased have been identified as Narender Soni (66), uncle of bridegroom and his wife Veena Soni (62), Narender’s sister Sudesh (70), her daughter-in-law Mona (40), and Mona’s minor son Sai Sohel, aged 12 years.

Police said two others have sustained minor burn injuries and they were discharged after primary medical treatment.

Mandi Deputy Superintendent of Police Hitesh Lakhanpal said a forensic team had been rushed to the spot to ascertain the cause of fire and there were reports of one or more LPG cylinders bursting in the house after the fire broke out.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the deceased alleged that the fire tenders didn’t reach the spot on time.

The government had ordered an inquiry into the incident and Additional district Magistrate Rajiv Kumar would conduct the probe, who would also probe the allegations of delayed response by Fire Department.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had extended heartfelt condolences over the incident and assured all possible help to the kin of deceased.