Elderly man burnt alive after beedi sparks fire in Mancherial

A 55-year-old man in Mancherial district was burnt alive after falling asleep while smoking a beedi. The fire spread from his wooden cot, killing him instantly. Police said the victim was inebriated at the time.

Nirmal: An elderly man was burnt alive after his bed caught fire at Thallapet village in Dandepalli mandal on Wednesday night.

Dandepalli Sub Inspector Tahseenuddin said Lakkakula Nagaiah, 55, died on the spot when his wooden cot went up in flames, reportedly triggered by his smoking habit, between 1 am and 2 am. A habitual smoker, Nagaiah was said to be in an inebriated condition at the time. He lit a beedi and fell asleep, unaware as the blaze spread across his bed.

---

Nagaiah’s son and daughter in law, who were sleeping in another room, woke up after noticing smoke and a foul smell. They attempted to douse the flames, but Nagaiah had died by the time he was rescued by family members and neighbours.

His wife, Rani, lodged a complaint with the police. A case has been registered and investigation is underway. The body was shifted to a hospital for postmortem.