Businessman, wife die in bungalow fire

Rajkot: A young businessman and his wife tragically died of suffocation and burns after a huge fire broke out in their bungalow in Limbdi town of Surendranagar district around Friday midnight."Preliminary investigation revealed that a technical fault in the air conditioner led to a blast and fire. The flames spread quickly and engulfed the entire bungalow," said Vishal Rabari, deputy superintendent of police, Surendranagar.The victims, Shabbir Lokhandwala (32) and his wife Rashida (29), were asleep in their bedroom. "They suffered around 50-60% burns. Neighbours and some other people somehow managed to bring them out and rush them to the hospital. But they couldn't survive. The main cause of death is suffocation due to smoke," Rabari told TOI. Two other relatives also suffered minor burns in the incident. The couple did not have children, police said, adding that the fire brigade and locals managed to stop the blaze from spreading.Talking to the media, Kalimuddin, a relative of the deceased, claimed that there was a blast in the mobile phone and the sparks fell on the furniture before rapidly spreading.The Lokhandwala family had been staying in Limbdi for many years and he is a prominent businessman.