MINGORA, March 24: Seven members of a family were burnt to death when fire engulfed their house in the Laikot area of Kalam early Monday morning.

Residents said the family members were asleep when the house caught fire. The victims were identified as Talimand, his wife, and five children, Hayat Ali, 3, Izzat Bibi, 8, Haleema, 6, Zakir Ali, 5, and Kishwar Jan, 13.

Neighbours after seeing the flames billowing from the house rushed to the site, but they could not rescue the inmates. They were able to extinguish the fire and recover the burnt bodies from the debris after hours.

The fire had reportedly spread from firewood lit by Mr Talimand’s wife to counter the cold.

Moving scenes were witnessed when the seven coffins were lifted from the house. — Correspondent