Patna, Dec 29 - Six members, including five children, of a poverty-stricken Dalit family died after their thatched hut caught fire in Budhgariya village of Gaya district in Bihar, the police said Saturday.The ghastly accident occurred late Friday night.The family head, Preman Manjhi, who suffered serious burn injuries, was admitted to the government hospital in Gaya town in a critical condition.Manjhi was admitted to the ICU of Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital, district administration officials said. 'The family was burnt to death when their thatched hut caught fire while they were sleeping,' the police said.It is a practice among the poor people in Bihar to burn cow dung cakes and wood to keep them warm.The police suspect the thatched hut may have caught fire from home-made earthen room heater.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
