Nagpur, August 7, 2024 – A devastating fire broke out early Wednesday morning in the Khaparipura commercial area of Itwari, resulting in the tragic death of a young girl and leaving three others seriously injured. The blaze, which originated in Shri Renuka Novelty Shop, quickly spread to neighboring establishments, including a perfume warehouse and other shops.

The deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Anushka Praveen Bakhde. The injured, Praveen Bakhde, his wife, and another individual, have been admitted to a local hospital, where the condition of two remains critical.

Reports indicate that Praveen Bakhde, the owner of Shri Renuka Novelty, and his family were residing above the shop. The fire began around 5 a.m. due to a short circuit in the ground-floor warehouse. The flames rapidly engulfed the building while the family was asleep.

Firefighters responded swiftly and managed to extinguish the blaze, but not before significant damage occurred. The fire destroyed materials worth lakhs of rupees.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the cause and to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The local community is mourning the loss of young Anushka and hoping for the speedy recovery of the injured.