HYDERABAD: A woman and her three daughters were burnt alive in a fire that broke out in their one-room flat in Labour Square in SITE area in the small hours of Monday.

The victims were identified as 50-year-old Jannat Bibi, her daughters Resham, 22, Asma, 16, and Sanam, 20. Resham was barely breathing when rescuers were shifting her to Liaquat University Hospital’s city branch but she died before getting first aid. Her mother and three sisters had died instantly.

SITE SHO visited the burnt-down flat and found it did not have any electricity connection, precluding short circuit as probable cause of fire. Resham could only tell police before her last breath that they had lit an earthen lamp as a mark of respect for birthday celebrations of a pious personage, which had perhaps caused fire and burnt down everything, he said.

Resham had arrived at her mother’s house only a few days back after developing some differences with her husband Arshad Dero who had taken away his children only a day ago.

All the women used to work as housemaids, said police.

Police said that it appeared to be an accident as nothing could be found in the flat that could suggest otherwise. The deceased were laid to rest in Noorani Goth graveyard in Husri area.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2020