Begusarai (Bihar), Jan 2 (PTI) Four members of a family, including two children, were charred to death after a fire broke out at their shanty in Arwa Tola area in Bihar's Begusarai district, officials said.

The deceased have been identified as Niraj Kumar (32), his wife Savita Devi (30) and their two sons aged between three and five years.

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The blaze erupted late on Monday, the officials said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the immediate family members of the deceased.

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“Prima facie, it appears that the flames spread from a nearby bonfire. Villagers informed the police about the incident, but by the time they rushed to the spot with fire tenders, several shanties were reduced to ashes,” said Rakesh Kumar, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Teghra.

The four victims were taken to the nearest hospital, where doctors declared them brought-dead, he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)