Bijnor hot ash tragedy: 2nd child dies, 2 others still critical

Bijnor: The death toll in the tragic hot ash incident on Jhalu Road in Bijnor district of UP has risen to two after 13-year-old Rehan succumbed to severe burn injuries on Monday morning while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

Earlier, another 13-year-old victim, Shad, had died on June 24 at Meerut Medical College.The tragedy occurred on May 1, when five children from Ladapura locality went to an orchard near Chakkar Chowk to collect mangoes after a storm. After being chased away by the caretaker, the children ran onto a roadside mound of industrial ash—allegedly dumped by a nearby mill—which was intensely hot underneath. Trapped in the burning waste, all five suffered severe burns.Rehan’s family, facing severe financial hardship, had shifted him between hospitals in Bijnor, Delhi, Rishikesh and Dehradun before he succumbed to his injuries. Following the arrival of his body back home, police attempted to initiate post-mortem proceedings, but the family refused to grant consent.SHO Avneet Maan stated that police are currently trying to persuade the family.Meanwhile, the district administration has issued notices to both the mill and the orchard owner. Authorities continue to monitor the condition of Sahil (12) and Uzaid (12), who remain critical, while Bilal is steadily recovering. The incident has triggered widespread outrage and renewed safety concerns over the illegal and unsafe disposal of hazardous industrial waste along public roads.