Kolkata: A 66-year-old woman, Lakhi Shaw, died from burns after a fire broke out at her residence in Garden Reach early on Wednesday. Police said Lakhi had lit egg crates to keep warm, which led to the fire.
According to police, the incident occurred around 2 am on Jan 21, when Lakhi was sleeping alone in a tiled-roof room. Her son, who was in an adjacent room, noticed smoke and rushed in to find her lying unconscious, with severe burns. Family and neighbours took her to SSKM, where she was declared dead on arrival.
Police said the fire was suspected to have started from egg cartons that Lakhi had started lighting over the past few days after their room heater broke down.
"Due to the rapid spread of fire, the family claimed they couldn't rescue the woman," said a fire department officer. Police said she was likely to have died from smoke inhalation and burns.
"We are awaiting a report from the fire department and FSL experts," an officer said.