9-yr-old girl dies of asphyxiation, burns at hostel

A nine-year-old girl student died of asphyxiation and burn injuries in a fire at a state-run girls hostel in Khammam, following a short circuit, police said Monday.

Two more girls were hospitalised with breathing problems after thick smoke engulfed the hall at the hostel at around 11 PM last night, where 20 girls were sleeping, they said.

All the girls were rescued except for the nine-year-old, a fourth standard student, who died on the spot.

An hostel welfare officer and a watchwoman have been suspended in connection with the incident.

Police suspect that the short ciruit was caused due to rain, following which a tube light burst and sparks fell on a bed, resulting in flames and thick smoke engulfing the hall.

A fire engine was pressed into service and the flames were doused, he said.

Expressing grief over the death, state welfare minister Koppula Eshwar asked the director of SC welfare to conduct a thorough probe into the accident and submit a report.

The minister ...