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Lit oil lamp may have caused the raging fire that killed doctor
An oil lamp lit to invoke blessings is suspected to have caused the fire on the upper floor of a house in Bellanwila on Thursday, that killed an expectant doctor and injured her husband, also a doctor, and their four-year-old son.
The gutted home. Pix by M A Pushpa Kumara
Initial medical investigations revealed that death was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning as the couple, along with their son, locked themselves in the bathroom probably to escape the raging fire.
Colombo South General Hospital’s, Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Dr. Prasanna Dasanayaka said he was awaiting the Government Analyst report before reaching a final conclusion on what could have caused the fire. Police who arrived at the scene along with the Government Analyst and the JMO had collected samples among which was a brass oil lamp.
The deceased has been identified as Vidharshi Dias (32). Her husband Dr. Anuranga Dias (37) and son are receiving treatment at the Kalubowila hospital.
The mother-in-law of the deceased, who lived on the lower floor of the house, told Police that she had seen smoke emanating from the upper floor around 1.30 p.m. and shouted out to them to come down. But there was no response and she had rushed out of the gate to call for help.
The upper floor was sealed by glass and was air conditioned and hence the sound had not carried. Police believe the fire had caused two of the window panes to shatter which had awakened the couple who had been sleeping in the bedroom with the child. They had rushed to the bathroom and locked themselves inside hoping to escape the fire but the asbestos roofing had melted and begun to fall causing toxicity in the fumes.
Investigators suspect that the lamp had been lit and placed near a window. The lamp may have been knocked over by the curtain as it fluttered in the breeze and fallen on some plastic toys of the child which were placed underneath, which would have quickly caught fire. The under ceiling of wood and the asbestos roofing had ignited resulting in a raging fire.
The family had sought refuge in the bathroom
The autopsy report said that the deceased had no signs of any external injuries and death was due to the inhalation of poisonous fumes. By the time fire engines reached the place, a large section of the upper floor had been gutted. Police had managed to get into the house and found all three unconscious. They were rushed to the Kalubowila hospital. Vidharshi Dias was pronounced dead on admission while the husband and child are undergoing treatment.
The post-mortem examination was conducted by Registrar of Forensic Medicine Dr.Janith Dayananada under the supervision of Chief JMO Dr. Prasanna Dasanayaka.
Acting Magistrate Nugegoda Suneetha Nanayakkara visited the scene and directed the JMO and the Government Analyst to submit their reports following which she will give her verdict on Monday.