A total of 12 people are dead after separate incidents of fire at homes in houses in Barhi at Kati and Chhapara in Seoni.
In Katni, six people, all members of a family, were reportedly burnt to death after a fire broke out at a plastic goods and wholesale shop in a three-storey building in Barhi.
Reports also said that the firefighting efforts were hampered as fire engines malfunctioned during the incident. Two people escaped unharmed.
The deceased included a two-month-old baby, two young girls, Arya, 14, and Anvi, 6, their mother, Poonam and their paternal grandparents, Puran Agarwal and Chandrakala, both around 70.
The incident was reported at around 12:30 a.m., according to District Collector Ashish Tiwari.
The first fire brigade arrived at the spot at 12:45 am.
Tiwari says that there were highly flammable materials, reportedly crockery materials, being stored o the lower floor, which made it difficult to control the fire. One fire engine which arrived from Vijayraghavgarh had a faulty hose, causing difficulties in dousing the flames. Other fire brigades were then called from Kymore and Katni.
The rescue operation lasted about five and a half hours.
The bodies of the victims were recovered.
In Seoni, six members of a family were killed, and four others were injured after a fire broke out in a three-story home.
The home belonged to a Goldsmith. Kundan Lal Soni, who resided near a jain temple in Mahavir ward in Chhapara town.
The incident was reported at around 4: 30 am a day after Diwai.
There were ten people at the home at the time of the incident. The deceased were identified as Kundan Lal Soni, 75, his wife Rajkumari Soni, 65, Ritu Soni, 42, Surya Soni, 45 and Aditya Soni, 16.
The four others were evacuated.
According to Seoni SP Krishna Lal Chandani, a short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire, based on the preliminary investigation. The electrical wires found in the home were burnt.
Reports speculate that both fire incidents were caused by short circuits.
