Mumbai:
A 35-year-old woman and her two minor children were charred to death when a fire broke out in their two-storey building located in Park Site area in suburban Vikhroli this afternoon, police said.
The deceased were identified as Salma and her children Mehraj (10) and Mohammed (15).
The incident took place at Anandgargh Naka around 3.30 pm.
"Salma's husband Salim runs a mattress and quilt shop on the ground floor of the building and the family used to stay on the upper floor," police said.
The blaze broke out at Salim's shop this afternoon and soon spread to other parts of the building, including the upper floor. Due to the fire, an LPG cylinder kept in their house also exploded, they said.
Salim was in the shop when the incident occurred and managed to escape the flames. But his family members were trapped in the house and were charred to death, police said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was caused due to short circuit, they said.
Meanwhile, local residents complained that fire brigade team reached almost 45 minutes after the incident was reported to them.
"When I called the fire station second time, they told me that they were unable to trace the place. Then, I rushed to the fire station, which is 250-300 metres way, and guided them to the spot," local resident Shiraz Sheikh said.
Further investigation into the case is on.