Meerut Fire Tragedy: 5 Kids, 1 Adult Killed

New Delhi, February 24, 2026: In a heart-wrenching incident that has sent shockwaves through Uttar Pradesh, a devastating fire broke out in a residential building in Meerut’s Lisadi Gate area on Monday night, claiming the lives of six people, including five young children. Initial investigations by local authorities suggest that a short circuit in an electrical appliance likely sparked the blaze, which quickly engulfed the house due to the presence of flammable materials.

The Incident: A Quiet Evening Turned Deadly

The tragedy unfolded around 8:00 PM in the Kidwai Nagar locality. According to police reports, the fire started on the ground floor of a house owned by a local resident identified as Iqbal Ahmad. At the time of the outbreak, Iqbal and his brother had gone to a nearby mosque for evening prayers, leaving the women and children at home.

The ground floor of the residence was reportedly being used as a garment warehouse and tailoring unit. The high volume of stored cloth and fabric acted as an accelerant, allowing the flames to spread with terrifying speed to the upper floor where the family resided.

Rescue Efforts Hampered by Narrow Lanes

Panic gripped the neighborhood as thick black smoke and massive flames began billowing from the building. Neighbors immediately alerted the fire department and local police. However, rescue operations faced significant challenges due to the extremely narrow lanes of the Lisadi Gate area, which hindered the swift movement of fire tenders.

Despite the logistical hurdles, firefighters and police personnel managed to reach the site and battle the blaze for several hours. Seven people were rescued from the inferno in critical condition and rushed to the local civil hospital.

Heavy Casualties and Identification

Tragically, the medical efforts were unable to save most of the victims. Doctors declared six people dead, five of whom were children. One woman remains in critical condition and is undergoing intensive treatment.

The deceased have been identified by authorities as:

• Rukhsar (25)
• Mahbish (12)
• Hammad (4)
• Akdas (4)
• Nabia (4 months)
• Inayat (4 months)

The loss of two infants and three toddlers has left the community in a state of profound mourning.

Official Investigation and Response

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey and District Magistrate Vijay Kumar Singh visited the site to oversee the situation. Speaking to the media, SSP Pandey confirmed the casualties and stated that a short circuit is the primary suspect behind the fire.

“Seven people were admitted to the hospital with severe burn injuries. Unfortunately, six of them succumbed. We are investigating the exact cause, but preliminary findings point towards an electrical malfunction involving an appliance on the ground floor,” the SSP stated.

The District Magistrate added that the administration is looking into whether the commercial use of the residential space (the garment warehouse) violated safety norms, contributing to the scale of the disaster.

As the smoke clears, the incident serves as a grim reminder of the fire hazards present in congested urban areas and the critical need for adherence to electrical safety standards in homes that double as small-scale industrial units.