Four of a family killed in Karnataka house fire after refrigerator 'explosion'; two injured

Four members of a family were killed and two others were seriously injured after a fire broke out at their house in Chavat Galli, Karnataka, late on Monday night, police said on Tuesday.

The deceased were identified by police as Gajanan Dhamone, 65, Roshan Dhamone, 21, Sharada Dhamone, 45, and Bharati Dhamone, 50.

Priya Dhamone, 28, and Ganga Dhamone, 25, sustained serious injuries. They were taken to hospital, where they are undergoing treatment, police said.

According to preliminary information gathered by the police, the fire is believed to have broken out after a refrigerator exploded inside the house. The flames spread rapidly through the premises, trapping the occupants inside. The victims were unable to get out, police said.

The fire was reported within the jurisdiction of the Market Police Station. Officers said further investigation is under way to establish the exact cause of the blaze. Police have not confirmed what triggered the fire, and their account so far rests on the initial information available at the scene.

Details such as the age of the refrigerator, when it was last serviced and the condition of the house's electrical wiring were not immediately known. Police have not released further information about the condition of the building or its fittings, or about other occupants of the house.

Investigators will also seek to establish whether the refrigerator was itself the origin of the blaze, or whether it was damaged by a fire that began elsewhere in the house. Both patterns are seen in appliance-related fires, and the distinction is usually settled by examining burn patterns and the state of the electrical circuit.

Deaths from house fires are a persistent safety concern in India, and electrical faults and appliance failures are among the causes that fire services most frequently flag. Refrigerators, which run continuously and draw heavy current, are among the appliances that can overheat or short-circuit if wiring, plugs or the compressor are faulty or poorly maintained.

Fire safety officials generally advise households to have wiring checked periodically by a licensed electrician, to avoid overloading sockets and extension boards, to replace frayed or damaged cords, and to keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of sand or water within reach. Working smoke alarms and an unobstructed exit route can give families the few extra seconds that matter when a fire spreads quickly.

Experts also point out that domestic fires spread faster in homes where combustible material such as cloth, paper or plastic is stored near heat sources or electrical points, and that smoke, rather than flames, is often the immediate danger. Staying low, covering the mouth and nose, and getting out quickly instead of trying to fight a growing fire is standard advice.

In this case, the police investigation will examine the source and spread of the fire, the sequence of events and whether any safety norms were breached. Findings are expected only after the inquiry is complete.