A 45-year-old man and his wife lost their lives in a devastating fire that erupted in a five-storey building in the Chamanganj area of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, according to police on Monday. The fire engulfed the entire building, which is situated in the Prem Nagar locality and houses a shoe manufacturing unit on its first and second floors. Officials fear the couple’s three daughters — Sara (15), Simra (12), and Inaya (7) — may also have perished in the blaze due to the intensity of the flames.

The bodies of Mohammad Danish and his 42-year-old wife, Nazneen Saba, were recovered from the fourth floor after hours of firefighting efforts. Authorities said the fire was first noticed by local residents on Sunday night when thick smoke and flames began pouring from the building. They quickly alerted both the fire department and police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Seesmau), Manjay Singh, stated that an investigation is underway to determine the cause. While not confirmed, early indications suggest the fire may have been triggered by a short circuit or faulty wiring in the sections of the building used for the shoe factory. The situation worsened when a couple of domestic LPG cylinders exploded during the fire. Firefighting operations are still in progress, and officials have evacuated residents from over six nearby buildings as a precautionary measure.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI.