KOLKATA: Bakul Adhikary , a 72-year-old woman, reportedly mentally challenged and locked inside a room alone, died a violent and lonely death after receiving severe burn injuries inside her one-room godown residence at Vidyasagar Colony close to Netaji Nagar.
The fire was reported around 12.30pm on Saturday and two fire tenders from Patuli doused the flames in the next 20 minutes. The local councillor and her supporters joined residents in the rescue operation.
By the time the woman could be rescued, she was found unconscious. She was later declared brought dead at the hospital.
Police said they were still not certain why the woman was locked inside the room by her son, who had left for work earlier in the day.
Netaji Nagar police are ascertaining how the fire started in the afternoon and the reason behind it.
“It could be due to a short circuit or she might have caught fire while cooking. Being mentally challenged, she may have failed to raise an alarm on time. It’s also possible she did try to get out but found the door locked from outside. It was only when the flames were visible from outside did locals reacted,” said an officer, adding a forensic team will probe the cause of fire.
