Man sets family on fire in South Kodagu; six dead

Shocking act in drunken stupor; three charred alive; three die in Mysuru Hospital

Ponnampet: In a shocking incident, six persons including little children were burnt to death after a man set a house on fire in a drunken stupor. While three persons were charred on the spot, three more died at K.R. Hospital in Mysuru after sustaining 95 percent burns. Two more persons are in a critical but stable condition with 60 percent burns. 

The incident occurred in the wee hours of today at Mugutigeri village near Ponnampet in South Kodagu where a group of estate labourers were staying in the line house of Kolera Vasantha Chittiappa. The house is located by the side of the road and as such, screams of victims were heard by neighbours. 

Yeravara Manju and his family stayed in the line house and yesterday, some relatives had come to his place and all of them were sleeping in the main portion of the house. The relatives and Manju partied all night and slept at midnight. However, there was some argument between Manju’s parents Yeravara Boja and Paniyeravara Seethe and they both fought with each other and later slept. 

Meanwhile at around 2 am, Boja, in a drunken stupor, got up and locked the front door of the house from outside. He later climbed onto the tiled roof of the house using a wooden ladder with cans of petrol. He allegedly lifted a couple of tiles and poured petrol on the sleeping family members and guests. He later dropped the already readied burning materials inside. 

The fire spread on the blankets and clothes immediately inside the room where eight persons including Paniyeravara  Seethe (45), Paniyeravara Baby (40) and Prarthana (6) and five others were fast asleep. Unable to battle the bellowing smoke and engulfing fire, Baby,                                                 Seethe and Prarthana died on the spot. 

The other five persons managed to break the main door and come outside. As it was a roadside home, screams were heard by neighbours and the estate owners. The five persons were rushed to the K.R. Hospital where three children 7-year-old Vishwas, Prakash and Vishwas succumbed to burns. 

Doctors treating them at Burns Ward of the Hospital told Star of Mysore that the three children had sustained 95 percent burns. The condition of the remaining two persons is critical but stable with 60 percent  burns. Ponnampet Police have rushed to the spot and Yeravara Boja is missing. Teams have been formed to arrest the accused.