Three members of a family from Gujarat's Kheda district died after a fire broke out at a motel in Ohio, US, where they had been living and working, according to information shared with their relatives.
The deceased have been identified as Hiteshbhai Suthar, his wife Hinaben and their 20-year-old daughter, Ishani. The family, originally from Nadiad in Kheda district, had moved to Wooster, Ohio, around two years ago.
The fire occurred at the Econo Lodge motel, where Hiteshbhai was employed. The family was residing on the property when the blaze erupted at around 1.30 am local time. Firefighters who reached the scene found thick smoke and flames engulfing the motel's roof.
According to available information, the family was inside their room when the fire broke out. As the flames spread, they contacted the motel's front desk for assistance.
They were reportedly advised to turn on the bathroom water supply and stay inside for safety. Following the instructions, the family locked themselves in the bathroom in an effort to escape the smoke and flames.
However, the fire took time to control, and all three are suspected to have died of suffocation before rescue teams could reach them.
Local reports said firefighters made several attempts to rescue those trapped inside. Images from the scene showed extensive damage to a detached rear section of the motel, located about 96 kilometres south of Cleveland.
"We saw multiple units on fire, fire through the roof, made multiple rescue attempts, and unfortunately, those were unsuccessful, and there are confirmed three deceased occupants from the motel," ABC News quoted a senior fire official as saying.
April Graser, a motel employee who was on duty at the time, said the overnight shift had been routine until the fire alarms suddenly sounded.
Describing the family's desperate call for help, Graser said she could hear them crying as they remained trapped inside their room. She immediately dialled 911 and alerted emergency responders.
"He was begging me to get help because they were trapped in the building, they couldn't get out of their apartment, and I heard her crying, I heard them all screaming and crying," Graser told News 5. "He told me, 'Please, please, April, please.' I said, I called 911."
No other deaths or injuries were reported in the incident. One firefighter sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze, according to local reports.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident, and further details regarding the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding it are awaited.
