Arunachal hostel fire death toll may rise..

Ten children, all under 7 years, were burnt alive after their hostel in an Arunachal Pradesh town caught fire on Wednesday night. Four others sustained serious burn injuries while four more were missing, presumably reduced to ashes.

The hostel, made of bamboo in typical tribal style, housed 62 children. They studied in the adjoining Don Bosco School, the most preferred educational institution in Kurung Kumey district’s Palin town, 230 km north of State capital Itanagar.

The news reached district headquarters Koloriang, 80 km north of Palin, in the morning after circle officials traveled all the way. Reason: the Palin area has had no electricity and telephone or mobile connectivity for the past three days.

Kurung Kumey district borders Tibet Autonomous Region under Chinese occupation.

Eyewitnesses said the hostel caught fire around 8.30 pm. A group of locals and CRPF personnel from a camp nearby helped fight the fire and drag most of the children out. The fire was brought under control around 10.30 pm, but it had already claimed the children and left widowed hostel owner Biri Nyari (35) with over 70 per cent burns.

Palin, like most small hill towns across the Northeast, has no fire brigade.

“Ten children, three of them girls, are confirmed dead. We have identified them from their assigned beds and belongings,” Kurung Kumey deputy commissioner Remo Kamki. “Family members have taken the survivors back to villages nearby.”

Officials said the toll could go up with four of the injured children in critical condition. Along with Nyari, they are battling for life in the Ram Krishna Mission Hospital in Itanagar.

Besides, there’s no trace of four more children missing after the fire. “It’s possible they are dead, burnt beyond recognition,” a police officer said.

According to district SP Apang Tamut, carelessness could have led to the fire. “It’s likely that the fire spread from a candle or oil lamp. But we’ll know for sure only after an investigation.”

“This is a very sad day for us,” said Don Bosco School Principal Father Karippai Jose, adding that the mortal remains of the children were buried within the school premises. He announced closure of the 16-year-old school to mourn the tragedy.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who would be visiting the site along with Education Minister Bosiram Siram on Friday, also expressed his grief and said the incident made a case for better accommodation for children studying far away from their homes.