14 Don Bosco children burn to death in hostel fire

In a shocking incident, at least 14 children were reported killed when a fire broke out in a private hostel in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday night.

The gutted Holy Angel private hostel housed 62 children of the adjoin Don Bosco School. According to officials, the fire broke out at around 9 pm when the children were sleeping.

The fire is understood to have caused by a burning candle or kerosene lamp in the hostel, which is mainly made up of a bamboo structure.

"We are investigating the cause of the fire but preliminary reports indicate that it could be an accidental fire as students were studying under candle light since there was no power supply," district magistrate Remu Kemkei told IANS.

Eight students have been reported injured and were being airlifted to hospitals in the state capital of Itanagar. Hostel owner Biri Nyari is among the injured.

"Efforts are on to look for anybody trapped or buried in the debris of the hostel," Kemkei said.

The Don Bosco missionary school is located in a tribal area of Arunachal Pradesh. Most of the students are members of tribes who come from remote areas to study at the esteemed institution

Father James Poonthuruthil, the provincial of Salesians of Don Bosco, Dimapur province, said he was "devastated" by the deaths. "Although these kids have died outside the school campus in a private-run hostel, they are our schoolchildren and we share the sorrow of the parents and relatives," he said.

Parents and locals, meanwhile, have accused the administration of not ensuring fire safety measures. There is apparently no fire brigade in the district.