A drunken argument at a relative's house in Khandwa district's Harsud area turned tragic after a man allegedly set himself on fire, leaving himself and a three-year-old child critically burnt in the incident late on Saturday.
Incident Details
The incident took place in Navalpura village, where 32-year-old Rahul Nayak, a resident of New Harsud, had arrived at the house of his brother-in-law Lalaram Pawar as a guest. According to police, a dispute broke out inside the house around 1:30 am. Rahul was allegedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.
During the argument, Rahul reportedly poured petrol on himself and ignited it in a fit of rage. As flames engulfed him, the fire quickly spread to a heap of fodder stored inside the house. In the chaos, Lalaram Pawar's three-year-old son Prince also came in contact with the flames and suffered serious burn injuries on his back.
Response and Medical Care
Panic gripped the family as screams echoed through the house. Villagers rushed to the spot after hearing the commotion and tried to douse the flames before police and emergency services arrived. A Dial-112 team along with Harsud police reached the village soon after receiving information. They shifted both the injured to the government hospital in Harsud. After primary treatment, doctors referred Rahul and the child to Khandwa Medical College owing to their critical condition.
Police Investigation
Harsud police station in-charge Rajkumar Rathore said preliminary investigation suggests Rahul took the extreme step following the dispute in an inebriated state. Police are conducting a detailed probe into the incident. The motive behind the argument is still under investigation, and authorities are questioning family members and witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy.
The condition of both victims remains critical, and they are under intensive medical care. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the dangers of alcohol-fueled disputes and the need for conflict resolution mechanisms at the grassroots level.
