5 killed as fire breaks out in house

At least five members of a family, including three women, were burnt alive when a fire broke out at a house in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district early this morning.

The fire broke out when the people were asleep after a 'baraat' (wedding procession) returned with the bridegroom and the bride late in the night at Ner Chowk, 145 km from here, family sources said.

Mandi Superintendent of Police Gurdev Chand Sharma said fire tenders were rushed to the spot, but five lives were lost before the blaze could be extinguished. Two others have sustained serious injuries.

The deceased have been identified as the parents of the bridegroom, Narender Soni (66) and Veena Soni (62); the sister of Narender, Sudesh (70); her daughter-in-law, Mona (40); and her 12-year-old son, Sai Sohel, the family sources said