<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Three people have so far died in a pandal fire that broke out in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi - about 280 km from state capital of Lucknow - on Sunday. The incident took place at a Durga Puja pandal in Aurai town of Bhadohi district, officials said. Around 150 people were said to be present at the event when the fire broke out during the Aarti session to mark the seventh day of Navratri festivities or Saptami.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Two boys (aged 12 and 10) and a 45-year-old woman lost their lives in the tragedy, news agency ANI cited Bhadohi DM Gaurang Rathi on Monday. Following the incident, 55 people were admitted to hospitals on Saturday, of which 22 people were said to be critical at the time and reeling with severe burn injuries.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The death toll has reached three in the Bhadohi Durga Puja pandal fire. A 12-year-old boy, a 10-year-old boy and a 45-year-old woman died,” the official said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“An incident took place at the time of ‘aarti’ (prayers), which was the peak time. There were around 150 people inside the pandal. Over 30 people suffered burn injuries after which some were rushed to Surya Trauma Centre, Community Health Centre, Gopiganj and Anand hospital,” he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some critically injured were also rushed to Banaras Hindu University (BHU) Trauma Centre in Varanasi. “Soon after getting information that the victims are being brought to BHU Trauma centre, we created a Green Corridor to ensure hassle-free transportation of the victims," Varanasi police commissioner A Satish Ganesh said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Police are suspecting a short circuit to be the main cause behind the fire but said they are waiting for confirmation from their technical team investigating the case. Source: HT</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>