On Monday night in Chavat Galli, Belagavi, an old second‑hand refrigerator exploded, igniting a fire that killed four women—Sharada Damane (45), her daughters Priya Gajanana Damane (28) and Ganga Gajanana Damane (25), and mother‑in‑law Bharti Rajaram Damane (50)—while two men, Gajanana Rajaram Damane (65) and his son Roshan Damane (21), survived with severe burns.
The victims lived in a small tin‑roofed and thatch‑walled house. They had bought the second‑hand refrigerator only recently, and police said the appliance detonated on Monday night, causing the blaze.
Neighbors reported hearing the explosion and seeing the flames but were too frightened to approach. An eyewitness said the house was completely consumed by fire by the time the fire‑engine arrived at the scene.
