AIZAWL:
Three persons, including a 14-year-old girl, were charred to death in a farmhouse fire near the Suangpuilawn village of Mizoram, on March 13.
Police said five persons, including two 14-year-old kids, were sleeping in the two-storey farmhouse when the fire broke out at around 4 am in the morning.
The deceased have been identified as the farm’s chowkidar Vanlalmawia (58), his 14-year-old daughter Zorinmawii, and the farm’s owner Lalmuankima (51).
Police sources said that while the farm’s chowkidar and his daughter were sleeping in the lower floor, the farm’s owner Lalmuankima, his 14-year-old son David Lallawmzuala and a farmhand Isaac Lallawmzuala (28) were sleeping in the upper floor.
The sources said the 14-year-old kid was woken by cracking sounds, and he immediately woke up Isaac.
“Within a few seconds, a massive fire engulfed the whole farmhouse. They tried to wake up David’s father Lalmuankima, who was sleeping in a separate room, but in vain. The two managed to jump out of the window while the other three did not have the time,” the police said.
The deceased’s bodies were burnt beyond recognition, they said.
A vehicle parked near the farmhouse was also heavily damaged by the fire.
According to the police, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained and investigation is underway.
The farm was a well-equipped one with a number of solar panels and other electrical equipment. The basement of the farmhouse was piled up with cooking gas, oil, used vehicle tyres and wood, the police said.