Chhapawa fire toll increases to 12

Satish Sharma

Motihari: The death toll in Chhapawa fire incident on June 1 in East Champaran district increased to 12 with the death of  four more burn injury patients at PMCH on Tuesday. Twentynine persons including 11 children were injured in a devastating fire which broke out at Chhapawa  market  under  Sugauli police station  due explosions in half -a- dozen LPG cylinders at an illegal gas  refilling shop of  Lal Babu Sah. Majority of those injured in the fire were shopping at the market.

Out of  29  injured,  the condition of 12  was critical  with 80%  burn  injuries and they were  sent to  Patna for better  treatment. In last  six days, 12  persons  died  at the hospital  and all of them belong to  Sugauli  block area. Lalbabu Sah ,who was running the  illegal gas refilling centre,  is evading arrest. A case has been lodged  against him by Sugauli police. DSP, Motihari, Pankaj Rawat said were on to nab him. Badri Prasad Gupta, CO, Sugauli, said that Rs  4,300 each were given as relief  to the  families  of  deceased.