Lahore, Mar 5 (PTI) At least four children and a woman were burnt alive on Wednesday when fire erupted in their gypsy hut in Punjab province of Pakistan, an official said.

The incident took place in Chohlistan's Toba Qasimwala, some 600 kilometres from Lahore.

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According to the Rescue 1122, the woman was cooking food when the bagasse on which their hut was made of caught fire.

“Wind caused spread of the fire to other huts, resulting in the four children aged between one and four and the woman being burnt alive,” a Rescue spokesperson said.

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He said dozens of gypsy huts were completely burnt by the fire and several families ran for their lives.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her grief over the loss of life and directed the authorities concerned to extend help to the families affected by the fire.

(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)