Four Infants Charred To Death In Maredumilli Hamlet

In a shocking incident, four children, all aged less than five years, were burnt alive, when their hut caught fire. The ghastly incident occurred in Banda Village of Chavidikota Panchayat in the Agency area of East Godavari district. The village is close to Maredumilli. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, but came to light only on Monday morning.

Slash and burn mode of agriculture is common in the Agency areas and as part of it some people burnt a portion of the forest to make it arable. However, due to high winds, the fire quickly spread to a nearby hut, where Bachela Lakshmi Reddy and Padma live with their four minor children. Reddy and Padma, who went for work, kept their four children in the house and locked it from outside as is the norm in the Agency areas.

With the fire spreading quickly, four children - Peda Ramireddy (4), Chinna Rami Reddy (1), Ramalakshmi (1) (both twins) and few months old Rajeswari - were charred to death. The parents, who returned late in the evening found their house gutted and their little ones completely charred. The police reached the spot and are investigating.