Indian family killed in fire at Muscat home

Muscat: An Indian family of four died when their house in old Muttrah district of Muscat caught fire on Saturday.

Ashokan, 42, a tailor; his wife Bindu and two sons Sharon, 11, and Sharaang, 7, were sleeping when fire engulfed their house. Authorities suspect the fire was caused by a short circuit.

A neighbouring house of an Omani citizen was also damaged in the fire.

Witnesses said that the house, made up mostly of wood, caught fire at 7am. The Civil Defence rushed to the spot and doused the fire but could not save the family.

Neighbours said that Ashokan, who hails from Cannanore district in the southern Indian state of Kerala, had worked till early morning on Saturday, which is a public holiday in Oman.