Mentally challenged charred to death

BHUBANESWAR: In a shocking incident, an 18-year-old mentally-challenged youth was charred to death in his room in Jagannath Vihar area of the City on Friday afternoon.Worried neighbours, upon spotting the smoke, first informed the police control room and the police in turn intimated the Fire Station. By the time the fire-fighters could reach to his rescue it was too late. The deceased was identified as Piyush Pani.Police said Piyush’s mother Bulbul had locked the grill from outside since she had gone out to accompany her daughter to a tuition class.How the fire started was unclear but fire officials believe Piyush may have ignited it by mistake. The flames had engulfed the cupboard containing the garments before spreading to the bed-sheets and other inflammable substances.Piyush probably choked to death before being charred. The incident left the mother in a state of shock and immense guilt. Piyush’s father Manmath Pani, a district coordinator of SSA at Khurda, was away at work.Given the mental condition of the son, the family would sometimes confine Piyush in the room when they ventured out. Piyush was a strongly-built youth and appeared in TV shows too. The tragedy left the residential colony in state of shock.