THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A probe is continuing in the incident over the death of five members of a family following a fire that broke out in their house, informed rural SP Divya Gopinath.

Fire force official Darwin said that it is not clear whether short circuit is the reason for the fire. Talking to a private channel, he said a major fire broke out in the house and those who were sleeping on the first floor died after inhaling smoke.

Two bikes parked in front of the house also caught fire. He said it should be examined whether the fire spread from the bike’s petrol. Prathapan (64) running a vegetable shop in Puthenchantha, his wife Shirley (53), son Akhil (25), daughter-in-law Abhirami (24) and their eight-month-old baby were those dead. Prathapan’s elder son Nikhil (29) who sustained serious burns is undergoing treatment at a private hospital.