House fire that killed six people described by coroner as a 'tragic accident'
The blaze was ignited by a firework.
Last updated 5th Sep 2025
Six people who were celebrating Diwali at a house in Hounslow died in a “tragic accident”, an inquest has found at West London Coroners Court.
The fire at a terraced house on Channel Close took place on the night of 12 November 2023, killing Seema Ratra, 47, her three children, Riyan, 11, Arohi, 8, and Shanaya, 4, and her two guests, Nitin Chopra, 28 and Sandhaya Chopra, 20. During its initial stages, around 70 firefighters were called to extinguish the blaze, with the fire spreading through the house's ground and first floors as well as part of the roof.
On Friday 29 August at the coroners court, Senior Coroner Lydia Brown ruled that all six individuals were “very quickly overwhelmed by smoke fumes” after hearing evidence from London Fire Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team that a fire had started outdoors before breaching the exterior of the house and spreading rapidly.
The court heard that at around 22:10 hrs, Seema Ratra's husband Mr Aroen Kishen was alerted by a guest to smoke beginning to fill the house. He went downstairs and discovered a sofa on fire. Senior Coroner Brown described Mr Kishen’s “heroic” attempts to tackle the fire, sustaining burns before losing consciousness. When he regained consciousness, the fire had spread. Mr Kishen desperately tried to alert those upstairs but the fire was so severe that he had no choice but to rush out.
The inquest heard how within minutes of the fire service's arrival at just after 22:30, the first breathing apparatus crew were committed to attempt to rescue those upstairs. The crew were able to reach the first floor but were forced to retreat due to the severity of the fire. A second crew then attempted but faced similar issues and, as crews retreated downstairs, the internal staircase partially collapsed.
Giving evidence, Consultant Pathologist Dr Ashley Fegan-Earl said the victims all died as a result of the inhalation of smoke fumes – a mixtures of toxic gases released in the fire. He said it was his belief they had been “overcome” by smoke in “no more than a few minutes”.
Senior Coroner Brown described the incident as a “catastrophic accidental house fire”, which she concluded was a “tragic accident” that occurred on an evening when they had been celebrating the beginning the festival of Diwali.
London Fire Brigade believed the fire began with a firework igniting waste inside a recycling bin which spread into the house. The firework's origin is unknown.
The fire then breached the uPVC facia panels, igniting a sofa and spreading further, with the stairway acting like a “chimney” for the smoke and heat to travel quickly upstairs.
North West Area Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Paul Askew, said: “On behalf of London Fire Brigade, I’d like to express my condolences to Mr Kishen and all of those affected by this terrible tragedy.
“On what was meant to be a night of celebration to mark the beginning of Diwali, a tragic accident occurred. In the days and weeks after this fire, the Brigade worked closely with its partners to provide support, including meeting with local residents, attending faith meetings, and joining a guard of honour for the recovery of the family and their guests from the property.
“I’d like to thank in particular the bravery of the initial crews on scene, who were faced with a devastating house fire, as well as our Fire Investigation colleagues who carried out a detailed and thorough investigation into the fire, helping to provide much-needed answers as to why this fire occurred.
“This incident sadly highlights the dangers that we know exist with fireworks. We will be working closely with our partners and communities to ensure Londoners are aware of the risks posed by fireworks, including during religious festivals and other cultural celebrations.
“We would also like to highlight the importance of having working smoke alarms, which give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts. We also urge people to call 999 as soon as possible if you see or suspect a fire. Fires can spread in a matter of seconds.”