A 25-year-old woman and her two children were charred to death by the time fire tenders arranged water in drought-hit Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh. The incident took place at Begumganj area, around 125 km from the state capital. There was only one fire tending vehicle available with the local municipality and that too was without water when residents rang them up for immediate rescue operation. It took more than one and a half hour for the fire brigade unit to reload their vehicle and reach the spot. It was too late by then. Vandana Chaurasia, 25, her son Mayank, 5, died on the spot while her 2-year-old daughter Kavya succumbed to injuries at hospital. Three other family members sustained fatal burns. Angry residents blocked Bhopal-Sagar road for more than an hour and staged protest against the municipality and local MLA.

They also sought suspension of the fire-fighters for delay in reaching the spot. They lifted the blockade only after police assured them of proper action. SP Raisen told TOI that reason behind the fire has not been ascertained yet.

Incharge of the fire-fighting unit, Shamsuddin, told media that their stock of water got exhausted in another fire that broke out at Narwar area. He said the municipality has been reminded of the situation time and again, but nothing has been done.